Ulu?-’ 















LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

Cliap.TZi Copyright No.. 

ShelL..Cc.8.i^8lIb 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



I 


7 



BEHIND PLASTERED WALLS. 


!2l JToDeL 


BY 

Wm. VV. M. CORNISH. 

II 






, AUGl0lS9i 


NEW YORK: 

Copyright, 1896, by 

G. W, Dillingham Co,, Publishers. 

MDCCCXCVI. 

\^All Rights reserved,] 








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LOVINGLY DEDICATED TO 


MY WIFE, 






Behind Plastered Walls. 


*‘My soul to God — my heart to thee.” 

The voice rang out clear as the limpid stream 
at the singer’s feet, that threaded its winding 
way through the meadows, stretching away to 
the foot of the mountain range a few miles dis- 
tant, which served as a barrier against the bleak 
west and north wind and insured to vegetation 
an early arousing from winter’s torpidity. Here 
the myriads of crimson-tasselled maple trees 
already displayed their marvellous beauty — 
though but a few miles away not a bud had 
burst and all nature was still wrapped in winter’s 
deep sleep. 

“ Happy — always happy — are you not, Lena ?” 

A brighter than the maple’s scarlet came to 
Lena’s surprised face as she turned full upon the 
speaker, whose approach she had not noticed, 
but unhesitatingly she replied : 


[5] 


6 


Beind Plastered Walls, 


Who could help being happy on such a per- 
fect morning ? Ah, Norman, the soul that could 
inhale the aromatic odors that are always 
brought from the soil by such a shower as we 
had last night, see the marvellous beauty of the 
maple blossoms swaying in the gentle breeze of 
morning, and drink in their delightful fragrance, 
and not be happy, must be unappreciative in- 
deed !” 

Well, child, no one can justly apply that term 
to you. Your soul is full of poetry, and poets 
are of course always appreciative !” 

“ But not always happy, as you say I am, so I 
am not a poet.” 

** But who is the ^ Thee,’ to whom your soul 
goes out so joyously in song?” 

** Oh, that is the song, you know !” 

“Yes, I know, but every time I hear you 
sing it, I seem involuntarily to look for some 
one, without knowing whom. Whom might he 
be, Lena ?” 

“ Might ? Oh, any one of a dozen, maybe.” 

“But what one in particular? Bernard Du- 
rand ?” 

“ For shame, Norman ! to put such ideas into 
a girl’s head who is but just turned sixteen ! A 
girl, too, who is a nobody ! Without education, 
even, save the little she has ‘ picked up ’ by the 
wayside, without any of the accomplishments 
which adorn young womanhood and render 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


7 


even the plain attractive ! Without anything to 
attract, save a pair of hands soiled and hard- 
ened by work! See I Bernard Durand, indeed.” 

She held to his view hands that were indeed 
stained by the recent paring of vegetables or 
fruit, though not hardened, as she had said, by 
toil, but soft and white, small and of exquisite 
symmetry. 

“ Lena, remember always, that no reproach 
attaches to labor! No stigma to work, no 
matter how menial !” 

“ Oh, I know that ! I could not have lived 
in the atmosphere that surrounds dear Mother 
Lockwood, without knowing that. But are 
there any who have lived to be sixteen years 
old, who have not aspired to something above 
drudgery, Norman? I think not. Why, even 
you have taught me to look up, to ‘aim high,' 
always! Is it then strange that I do ? Ought 
not I to prove an apt scholar with such teachers 
as Mother Lockwood and Norman Despard ? 
Oh, Norman, I shall never forget you, never. 
Nor the many, many things you have taught 
me ! In the years to come, after you are mar- 
ried and away in the city, I shall try to profit by 
the advice you have given me, and to become 
the woman you have been so good as to say I may 
become! Oh, I will be good, and if possible, I 
hope I may be just the woman that you have 
so often pictured and said I may become.” 


8 


Behmd Plastered Walls, 


A woman of whom the noblest in the land 
might justly be proud,” Norman interrupted, 
^‘and from my very soul I do believe you will.” 

“Thank you, Norman. Your confidence in 
me has always been an inspiration. It is none 
the less so now that you are so soon to go away. 
As I remember, even as a child I received from 
you none of the criticism that chills and dampens 
the youthful ardor, but always the commenda- 
tion that warms and encourages.” 

“ Because I saw potentialities of a noble 
womanhood even in the little child, and made 
free to speak of them. You have not disappointed 
me, Lena, in the least, and one of these days I 
shall expect to realize that I am a prophet, in- 
deed, so far as my little friend is concerned.” 

“ Norman, can something spring from nothing ? 
And how can we develop into anything, here, 
amidst only deterrents, deprived of every stimu- 
lant? With you to incite, to energize possible 
latent powers, to foster every effort, the task 
has been easy. But with yow gone — oh, Norman, 
I shall sadly miss you, and the inspiration that 
has come from association with you !” 

“You will have a grand exemplar in Miss 
Lockwood, Lena !” 

“Oh, I can never equal her in anything. She 
has taught me all I know. But how infinitesi- 
mal is my knowledge — my intellect — compared 
to hers.” 


BeJiind Plastered Walls. 


9 


‘‘Nay Lena, you must not belittle the gifts of 
God! You are but a child and cannot expect to 
outshine so accomplished a woman as she!” 

“ Outshine ! Oh, Norman ! no such thought 
ever came to me ! That time will never come. 
Her conversation is so enlightening, so enrap- 
turing ! When she talks I sit mute and drink in 
her every word with delight! To be enabled to 
render language so mellifluous as to excite the 
imagination, incite to effort, and lift to a higher 
plane, as she invariably does, is a gift or an ac- 
complishment that a queen might covet! Then, 
too, she is so good. Oh, she is wisdom and good- 
ness combined, through and through !” If we 
could but leave this place and dwell among 
people, how would she shine ! Here are we in 
this beautiful but isolated place, where a dozen 
families comprise our world, with no prospect of 
ever being lifted out of it !” 

“Nay, child, do not repine. ‘We know not 
what a day may bring forth,’ you know, and you 
cannot know what are the possibilities before you. 
Ah ! Here comes the General with his new turn- 
out. What a team ! But how the General is 
ageing. His hair is truly as white as snow!” 

“ Norman, do you know I am afraid of that 
man. He is so glum and fierce. I have never 
seen a smile in his face, and he glowers upon me 
with his keen little eyes from under his bushy 
brows so that I am afraid of him ! Ugh!” 


lO 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


‘‘He has a forbidding presence, I must confess, 
and looks ghoulish enough, as my sister often 
says, yet I find him pleasant. He is very intel- 
ligent, too, and a very encyclopedia of knowl- 
edge. Sister Ruth says he has lived ever since 
the flood, and ought to know something. She, 
too, fears and, I am afraid, dislikes him.” 

“ Oh, he seems so arrogant — so important ! He 
frequently drives by, but I have never seen him 
cast a glance at this little cottage ! And he passes 
and repasses dear mother without a sign of recog- 
nition, yet she has known him all her life.” 

“ He is a strange man, 1 admit, yet on the 
whole a good enough neighbor.” 

“ Neighbor ! Has he ever entered a neighbor’s 
house, save your father’s ? If keeping himself to 
himself, associating with no one, giving no assist- 
ance to even the most deserving poor, constitutes 
a ‘ good neighbor,’ then he will take first rank. 
And yet he is said to be possessed of almost un- 
limited means. He ought to be reconstructed !” 

> “Well, Lena, as I did not come to discuss the 
General, but to see Miss Lockwood, and incident- 
ally to say good-bye, I will run in now, leaving 
you to continue your anthem. I will see you 
again when Miss Lockwood is through with 
me.^ 

So saying Norman Despard turned, waved an 
adieu, and sought Miss Lockwood in her own 
narrow home. 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


II 


I 


CHAPTER II. 

Norman Despard, Jr., was the eldest of three 
children of Norman and Hetty Despard, both of 
whom had been born and had all their lives 
dwelt within a ‘‘stone’s throw ” of their present 
commodious and somewhat pretentious home. 
Norman Despard was a well-to-do farmer, but 
that the farm, though a magnificent one, was not 
the sole or main source of his revenue, was ap- 
parent. First in all improvements, president of 
the bank, insurance company, the water works, 
etc., in the adjacent village of Sussex, giving 
freely to all worthy objects, he was not only the 
foremost man of the place, but the most honored 
and best beloved. 

His eldest son was educated for a lawyer, 
for which he had early shown a predilection, and 
at the opening of our story, having practised 
three years in Sussex, and being ambitious for a 
larger field, he had completed all necessary ar- 
rangements, and was on the point of removing to 
New Haven, where he was to be married to a 
noted lawyer’s daughter, and at once enter his 
office as an equal partner. 


12 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


Although of a wealthy family, indulged from 
his youth up, he had not been spoiled, but inherit- 
ing the good traits of most exemplary parents, 
he had won the love and commanded the respect 
of all who knew him. Although almost twice 
the age of Lena Lockwood — for he was twenty- 
eight years old now — he had been on unusually in- 
timate terms with her, being her near neighbor, 
and having been thrown much in her society, 
from having been taught certain branches, pre- 
paratory to entering college, by Miss Lockwood 
at her own little home. Lena had learned to 
value his counsel, and as she grew to young 
womanhood, to greatly esteem him, so that after 
his graduation and return from college, the child 
and man became still more intimate — almost 
brother and sister. 


Behmd Plastered Walls. 


13 


CHAPTER HI. 

I HAVE sent for you, Norman, because I am 
growing old and you are going away. You 
smile ! No wonder. But sit down and listen ; 
then when you have heard what I have to tell 
you, you will not wonder that you were sent 
for.” 

Miss Lockwood seated herself in her high- 
backed Boston rocker, facing her guest. She 
was a dignified, distinguished-looking woman, 
even in her old age. Although Miss Lockwood 
had spent most of her life in the little cottage 
where she now dwelt, there were few people 
who knew anything of her history, beyond that 
fact. 

** Although you are a lawyer, Norman, I really 
think you an honest man, an anomaly, I grant 
you,” she said, smiling. 

I hope so, surely,” the young man replied. 

Well, honest lawyers, it is said, are very 
scarce. I have had no experience with the fra- 
ternity, and so cannot testify of my own knowl- 
edge. However, you are not here to listen to a 
dissertation on the exemplars of the calling you 


14 Behind Plastered Walls. 

have chosen, so I will desist. You know I am 
not as young as I once was, Norman, though I 
am only sixty-eight ” 

“ Sixty-eight, Miss Lockwood ! It cannot 
be !” 

Stop, Norman,” Miss Lockwood said, placing 
her white, smooth hand upon his arm and smiling 
into his face, thereby disclosing as perfect a set 
of teeth as any young girl could boast. ‘‘ You 
must not flatter even old ladies; the habit once 
contracted, you may take to flattering the young 
and silly, which would be naughty. But I am 
growing old, I may drop out suddenly, and the 
possibility of this has, of late, set me to thinking. 
Lena must never be left without a guardian — a 
protector. And it is to ask you who know and 
understand her so well, to consent to succeed 
me in that capacity, that I have sent for you. 
You are young, it is true, but I have so 
thoroughly known you from your childhood, 
that I have fixed my mind on you for Lena’s 
guardian, and I hope you will not refuse this re- 
quest.” 

“ Dear Miss Lockwood, I could not refuse any 
request that you would make, but this I gladly 
grant. However, Lena is a wonderful child, and 
I trust she may have your example and protec- 
tion many years yet.” 

“ I hope so, but deem it wise to provide 
against every contingency, but I do not want 


Behijid Plastered Walls, 


15 


your compliance until you have learned some- 
thing of her history, and the telling of hers ren- 
ders necessary the telling of a page in my own 
history, which you, Norman, have never heard. 
Years and years ago, my father was a success- 
ful man of business in Boston. My mother, 
never robust, became feeble after my birth, and 
by her physician’s advice, my father closed up 
his business and removed to this place. His 
means were moderate. He had but one child, 
myself, and when only half grown, a mere child, 
in fact, he whom you know as General Warren, 
then a young man a few years my senior, met 
me when on one of his summer vacations at 
home from college, and was foolish enough to 
think he loved me. 

I was flattered by the attentions of so high-born 
a young man, I presume, and was foolish enough 
to reciprocate, or to think I did. His parents 
had other plans for him, and endeavored by 
every means, first to influence, then to control 
him. But he had been allowed to have his way 
too long to be turned from his purpose now, and 
so continued his visits. Because of this, my 
father lavished his money upon my education in 
order that I should be well fitted for the posi- 
tion that it was expected that I would occupy, 
reserving a bare competency for his own old 
age. 

Lewis expressed himself as very proud of me. 


1 6 Behind Plastered Walls, 

Sitting where you now sit the last time he was 
here as my lover he said, *Ah, Honora, I shall 
introduce into Elmwood Hall the most beautiful 
and the most accomplished bride that ever en- 
tered it.’ 

“ On his return to his home that very night he 
found a young lady there — whom I shall always 
think his mother brought from Boston for that 
express purpose — who completely enthralled him! 
He never returned to me, and in three weeks they 
were married! You marvel that I can speak of 
this without emotion, but, Norman, though I 
loved the proud aristocrat with my whole heart, 
and it was nearly broken by his perfidy, respect 
for him soon died, and with it died also love, for 
I was one of the few who could not love where I 
could not respect. I did not write to Lewis — I 
sent him no word. He kept away from me. I did 
not see him to speak to him in ten years ! Then 
his wife died leaving one child, a boy. 

*‘Two years more went by. Meantime his 
father and mother had died, as had also my father 
and mother, and I was living alone with a young 
girl friend as companion, when as I sat ruminating 
on the past one evening, Lewis Warren entered. 
I bade him be seated, but instead he fell upon his 
knees and bursting into tears, asked my forgive- 
ness for his former baseness, declared he had 
been punished, for he had never known a happy 
day with his wife, and ended by again offering 


Behind Plastered Walls, 17 

me his hand, declaring that he loved me still, 
always had and always would ! Although despis- 
ing him the more for this acknowledgment, 
I declined his offer in the gentlest words 
that I could command. He then declared I 
could never have loved him. I told him that 
whether I had or not was immaterial. I certainly 
had not since his abandonment of me, even re- 
spected him, and I certainly could not love where 
1 could not respect. 

“ His proud spirit was humbled. He was humil- 
iated, yet enraged ! He left the house and I have 
never spoken to him since! He has never even 
looked at me nor at the house, so far as I know, 
as he has passed by ! 

His boy, named for him, Lewis, used fre- 
quently to run in during his father’s absence, for 
he was away much in the army during the war, 
and also afterward. He returned from the war, a 
General ! I became fond of the boy and he of me. 
His was a weak nature, however, I fancy like his 
mother’s, for all the Warrens were as firm and 
hard as adamant. The boy was handsome, too, 
handsomer than his father. He grew up, was 
sent to college, but never graduated. He re- 
turned home during his senior year in the winter, 
ill, and died within a week. 

I afterwards learned from his old colored 
nurse, Hannah, who is still at the Hall and who 
assisted in nursing him through his last illness. 


1 8 Behind Plastered Walls, 

that he and his father had an exciting time, 
almost a quarrel, during this illness, and that 
the sick young man was nearly exhausted by it. 
That in a day or so thereafter, when he seemed 
rapidly failing, being alone with Hannah, he took 
from under his pillow a large sealed envelope, 
put it in her hand and endeavored to tell her 
something concerning it, but that most of what 
he said was unintelligible. She could only dis- 
tinguish the words ‘ certificate ’ or * certify and 
‘Lockwood.’ From this she drew the inference 
that she was to deliver the package to me. J ust at 
that moment the Doctor and the General entered 
the sick room and Hannah thrust the envelope 
in her bosom, and at the first opportunity hid it 
in the garret in a tin box she had, under a rafter, 
until she could find opportunity to bring it to 
me. That opportunity has never arrived, never 
will arrive ! 

“ The general entered the garret while she was 
there, a thing never before known, asked what 
she was after, brusquely ordered her to go down 
stairs, and told her never to put her foot there 
again. He followed her down the stairs, shut and 
locked the door, and took possession of the key. 
The young man died, and the day after the funeral 
carpenters and masons set to work to convert the 
garret into a third story containing six rooms. 
Hannah tried to gain access, but was thwarted 
on every occasion, she believed intentionally. At, 


■/ 


Behind Plastered Walls, 19 

all events she never saw the garret, and if the 
tin box which she hid under a rafter is in ex- 
istence, it is walled up and will never again be 
seen. These things were told to me at the time. 

“ On a dreary night some six months after Lewis 
Warren’s death, in the midst of a hard rain storm, 
the worst I ever saw in the summer season, as I 
sat in the gloaming trying to read, I was startled 
by something apparently falling against my 
front door. Julie screamed from fright, but the 
door was bolted, and I did not know fear. I 
took my revolver from the drawer where I al- 
ways kept it for an emergency which had never 
before come, went to the door, first telling Julie 
to light the lamp, and demanded : 

‘ Who is there ?’ 

‘ For the love of Heaven admit me, madam.' 

It was a woman’s voice, but I hesitated, for I 
did not know what stratagem might be resorted 
to by unscrupulous persons to effect an entrance, 
but just then my woman’s heart softened under 
the influence of a pitiable infantile wail, the door 
flew open, and there, leaning against the door- 
frame and seated on the floor, was the most be- 
draggled specimen of female humanity that 
ever met my gaze. A bundle lay in her lap, 
from which protruded the little red foot of a 
babe, the tiniest thing of the kind I had ever 
seen. The cry of the babe was intermitted but 
for a moment. A pair of large, lustrous eyes 


20 


Behmd Plastered Walls, 


were turned beseechingly upward, one hand was 
raised, the lips of the woman moved, but no ar- 
ticulate sound came forth. 

“ I took the bundle from the unresisting arms, 
unwrapped the babe, and as its little, bright eyes 
met mine, I pressed my lips upon its little mouth, 
and kissing it, handed it to Julie. At this, a smile 
of infinite sweetness came into the woman’s face, 
she gave a sigh of relief, and fainted dead away ! 
Of course all this occurred in about half a minute. 

“We got the poor creature in somehow, dis- 
robed, in dry clothing, and in bed, as soon as 
possible. With the aid of what restoratives we 
had in the house, we soon succeeded in bringing 
her back to consciousness, gave her nourish- 
ment, and put the little one — now washed, 
wrapped in flannel and made comfortable — by 
her side. But it found no nourishment at the 
impoverished fountain, and sent forth a wail that 
went straight to Julie’s heart and mine. She 
hastily prepared some gruel under my directions, 
and we fed the half-famished little one, which 
was soon satisfied and sleeping soundly. 

“Julie then dried the infant’s clothing by the 
kitchen fire. I took the garments and noted 
the fineness of the texture, as women always 
will, you know. 

“ ‘ It is well-born, ma’am,’ the mother said, 
evidently divining my purpose in examining the 
clothing, ‘ although we are entirely destitute.’ 


BeJiiiid Plastered Walls. 


21 


* What is the little one’s name ?’ I asked. 

“ The poor creature raised herself on one elbow, 
and while her eyes fairly blazed, she said in an 
unnaturally loud voice, ‘ The name — her honest 
name — oh, please do not forget it, is Regina 
Warren! Warren^ mind you, not Marvine. We 
were honestly married — but they will not believe 
me! Oh, where, where, where is my babe’s 
father? I remember now,’ she said, raising her 
thin white hand to her forehead, Hhey told me 
— they told me that he is dead ! But I will not 
believe them. Oh, he is not dead! Oh, blessed 
Lord, where, where is my husband? What have 
they done with him ? Oh, Lewie, Lewie, my 
beautiful darling, where are you?’ 

“Her arms were extended, the tears rolled 
down her cheeks, even as the wild eyes glared 
into space, and she again ^sank into insensibility. 


22 


Behind Plastered' Walls, 


CHAPTER V. 

“ Norman Despard, you, in common with 
others, have wondered when you have seen the 
white stone in the Lockwood plot in the ceme- 
tery yonder, on which is engraved : 

Cecelia Marvine Warren. 

Died July 7, 1877. 

^ 19 years of age. 

** There is but one human being beside myself 
who knows what I am now going to tell you, 
what you suspect, in part, from what I have al- 
ready told you. The poor creature who tottered 
to my door on that awful night, and who lies buried 
in that grave, was the lawful wife of Lewis 
Warren, Jr., and there” — pointing to Lena, sitting 
on a rustic seat on the lawn with her arm thrown 
around the neck of a huge St. Bernard dog, ‘‘ is 
their child. The legitimate grandchild of Gen- 
eral Lewis Warren! Repudiated by him, thrust 
out into the raging elements by him to die — the 
young, frail mother of General Warren’s grand- 
child, with her babe in her arms, found refuge 


Behind Plastered Walls, 




here! Here she lived a few weeks, here she 
died ; there she lies buried, and there is her 
babe ! Lena knows nothing of her history, as 
yet — save that she came to me in her babyhood. 
But the timeiscoming when she must know — for 
it is her right — though the knowing will bring 
only unhappiness and woe. Were there any 
way of proving her birthright, I should have 
proved it long ago. But there is none. Still, 
you are a lawyer — you are going to reside in 
the city whence that poor girl started in search 
of her husband, and the possibility that in God’s 
providence there may be some means of tracing 
Lena’s lineage there, has induced me to tell you 
of her history and provide for her future before 
you go away.” 

Can you give me anything as to the history 
of the girl Lewis married, of the marriage itself, 
their residence, etc., after marriage ? Anything, if 
never so slight, is better than absolutely nothing.” 

“ The poor child was so weak that 1 deferred 
asking many questions until she should get well. 
I thought her getting better slowly until just 
before she died. But when I told her of my hope 
that shortly she would be well, she said to me so 
pitifully, ‘ My dear benefactress, my dear husband 
is dead, his father repudiates his son’s widow 
and his own grandchild. My heart is broken 
and I shall die ! Oh, my baby papa’s darling, 
she said, fondly caressing the little one sleeping 


24 BeJiind Plastered Walls, 

by her side. ‘ Keep her, I bequeath her to you. 
Rear her tenderly, for she is of good blood on 
both sides. You tell me you have no one else to 
love. Oh, be a mother to my baby. She will 
well repay you, I know. Oh, m}'' darling, papa’s 
own beautiful babe !’ 

** She never spoke another word. Norman, I 
have tried to be a mother to her. God knows I 
could not love her more were she my very own, 
and I know she loves me. But there is a far- 
away look in her eyes, sometimes, that tells me 
that there is a longing in her soul that never 
finds utterance nor satisfaction.” 

“ But, Miss Lockwood, about her mother, what 
does she know ?” 

“ Nothing, absolutely. And I have nothing to 
tell her that can satisfy. All that I was enabled 
to learn, and this only by piecemeal, is that Ce- 
celia Marvine, a Swedish girl, lived somewhere 
in New Haven as a nurse girl, though she was 
evidently well educated and of no common ori- 
gin. That she frequently met the Yale students 
in her walks with the baby carriage ; that one of 
them, Lewis Warren, was attracted by her, as 
she by him, made her acquaintance, and finally 
took her to some minister’s house, where, in the 
presence of the minister’s wife and daughters, he 
married them. They boarded in a quiet place 
— even the street and number she did not know. 

They never went out except occasionally in 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


25 


the evening, but her husband spent more nights 
at the college than with her. Finally, Lewis left 
her, as he assured her, to go to his father, ac- 
knowledge his marriage and seek assistance, that 
he might live in a style more in accordance with 
his tastes and wishes. Her babe was then but 
two weeks old. 

“ Lewis took with him their marriage certifi- 
cate to convince his father of his lawful marriage. 
As he did not return, the young wife waited and 
waited, and prayed, for she was a good girl, for 
his return. She wrote several times to her hus- 
band, but received no reply. Becoming desper- 
ate, being in debt for board, and entirely desti- 
tute, she took the few shillings left in her purse, 
ascertained the way to get to her father-in-law’s 
house, and started. She found that she had but 
just money enough to take her to Avergne, three 
miles away from her destination. Undaunted she 
started, and went that far in comfort, then 
started to complete the journey on foot, with the 
babe in her arms and her little satchel in her 
hand 

The storm overtook her, but she plodded on, 
footsore and weary as she was until she arrived 
at Elmwood Hall thoroughly exhausted. The 
rest of the story was told by Hannah, Lewis’ 
old colored nurse at the Hall 

“It rained a’most mighty hard Miss Lock- 
wood,” Hannah had said, “and de lightnin’ itflash 


26 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


drefful, like de good Lord was done gone mad, 
sure enuff ! Den dar was a great sound of the big 
knocker on the settin’ room door. I’se awful 
scared, but I went quick fur to open de door! 
'case de ole marse he done want no pokin’ around 
no time. Well, dar stood dat purty little creeter 
wi’ a babe in her arms an’ a bag in herhana, wid 
her big wide open eyes starin’ right at me.” 

“ ‘Is Lewis here?’ she axed. ‘Mister Lewis 
Warren, the yonger !’ says she. 

“ ‘ May de good Lord lub ye,’ says I. ‘He’s 
dead and buried dese three months!’ 

‘“ Dead?’ says she, ‘ dead! My baby’s father 
dead!’ And wi’ that she fetched an awful scream 
and jes sunk right down on de flo’, dead’s a door 
nail! I jes drug her in and shut de door, when 
de ole Gineral come rushin’ in like mad. 

“ ‘ What’s all dis noise about ?’ he axed me. 

“‘It’s dis young wooman — poor creeter, gess 
she be dead, sure enuf.’ 

“ ‘ Who is she — an’ what’s she doin here?’ he 
axed, lookin’ blacker’n a thunder cloud. 

“ ‘ Dunno, on’y she say ’ 

“ ‘ Well, fool, what did she say? What does 
she want! Who is she?’ he roared, like a mad 
bull. 

“ ‘ She axed fur Marse Lewis, sir, and she say 
he de fader o’ her baby. Dis little ting.’ 

“ De little tot — a’most drownded, looked up 
into de ole man’s face and smoled sich a angelic 


BeJimd Plastered Walls, 27 

smile as dis chile neber seed in mortal face afore 
nor sense!” 

“ ‘ Lebe de room, stop your prating, and send 
John here,’ says de Gineral. 

“Just as I were gwine out I seen de poor 
creeter open her eyes an’ look up so pitiful like 
in de Gineral’s face, an’ I stopped. She got up 
onto her elbo, an says she so lemancolly like: 

“‘Am you Gineral Warren? Ah, yes,’ says she, 
widout watin’ fur no answer, * I see you are — he 
looked so like you. Oh, sir, he is my husband, 
and they told me he is dead! It is a mistake, sir, 
is it not?’ 

“ ‘ My son is dead, he died last winter. But he 
was not married, and had no child. You are an 
impostor. Get up and get out !’ the Gineral 
said. 

“‘Oh, sir, no, no! Oh, I am his lawfully 
wedded wife ! Here, sir, is his babe. Oh, do 
you not see your son here, sir? She is his own 
image.’ 

“ Ole marse got drefful mad. He tore 
about and swore at de poor, crazy creetur, fur 
she must hev been crazy, purty nigh! She put 
de baby on de flo’ and she clung to ole marse’s 
knees, an’ begged him to take her baby, ‘ little 
Lener,’ she called it. But he only swore wusser, 
an’ tole her she were a ole harlot, when any one 
could see she was only a chile, and told her to 
git up and take her brat of a youngern to the 


28 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


foundlin’ ’sylum, and never show her head here 
agin, else he would put her and her cub in 
prison ! 

“‘Prison!’ she said, grabbing her baby up. 
‘ Prison ! Oh, no, no. Do with me what you 
like, it matters not what becomes of me, but this 
is my husband’s child^ your grandchild. Oh, you 
could not so treat your own flesh and blood ? 
You would not dare to do it, sir.’ 

“ ‘ Ole marse jest biled ober. Says he, ‘ Git 
out o’ here ! Git out o’ here, you and your 
brat 1 John, here, drag this harlot out ob de 
house and set de dogs on her.’ 

“ Ole marse rushed out o’ de room, and the 
poor, wet, muddy creetur staggered around an’ 
almost fell down. She wouldn’t let John tetch 
her, until he said, ‘ Poor creetur, poor creetur, 
ole marse’s hard, but I sha’n’t set no dogs on 
you.’ 

“ ‘ We don’t dast to keep her in the kitchen, do 
we, Hannah ? John says. 

“ ‘ No,’ says I, ‘ ole marse might find it out. But 
dar’s a good fire in de wash-house. We kin put 
her in dar, gib her some warm supper, and let 
her sleep dar by the fire !’ 

“ John, he was all broke up, but he say, ‘ Yes, 
yes, dat’s so, Hanner. Come along, missus, 
lemme carry de picaninny.’ 

“ But the poor creetur, she draw back and 
clung to de little baby dat neber made a bit o’ 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


29 

noise. On’y opened its big eyes an’ laffed. An’ 
says she : 

‘ No, I thank you, kind creeturs, so much, 
but we cannot partake of food from his larder, nor 
feel the warmth of his fires. Better to perish, 
but we’ll not perish, we will trust ourselves to 
God and his mercies. He will protect us. Oh, 
Lord, be merciful and save my fatherless babe!’ 

“ She hugged her picaninny and was right in 
de door gwine out when de Gineral he come in 
agin, swared at her and shook his fist at her. 

“ ‘ Cussed harlot,’ says he. ' Leave this house 
instantly, or I will set this dog on you and have 
you and your brat torn limb from limbi’ 

“ ‘ She wa’n t skeered a bit, nor mad nuther. 
She jest stopped and looked at him jest like a 
angel, so John an’ me boff said, an’ says she: 

** * Your dog, sir, is not brute enough to obey 
such a brutal command.’ She stooped down 
and called Juno, and she went right up to her 
waggin’ her big tail, though she had pups an’ was 
ugly as pizen, an’ licked her hand, an’ the baby’s 
face. ‘ No well-bred dog, such as this, will rend 
those who are of its own master’s blood!’ says 
she. Den she got up an’ drawed herself up, 
proud as the Warrens ever could, an says she, 

' I cannot curse my husband’s father, but in your 
desolateness may you long for the love that 
might have been yours.’ 

Den she went right out inter de hard rain* 


30 Behind Plastered Walls, 

Ole marse looked white, but he didn’t swear no 
more. John trembled an’ looked at me, an’ I 
looked at John. Den he said very slowfully : 
“ Gineral, dis niggah couldn’t ’a’ treated a dog 
likedatl’ I spected to hear it thunder den, but 
ole marse didn’t said nary a word, but went in 
tother room an’ shet de door. 

‘‘John watched de poor, crazy creeter, but 
purty soon sez he: 

Hanner, ole gal, I can’t see her no more. 
Reckon she’ll be gwine inter Miss Lockwood’s.’ 

“ ‘ What fur you can’t see her,’ says I, ‘ I kin 
see her plain nuff!’ But somehow de raindrops 
dey got inter my eyes, too! Purty soon we boff 
seen her staggerin’ along fudder down de hill. 
Den she got to de main road, an’ turned in 
towards Miss Lockwood’s. 

“‘De good Lord’ll send her to Miss Lock- 
wood’s, sure. Hanner, our old marse’s hart am 
gittin’ hard’s a stun,” says John. 

“ ‘ Mebbe taint no bizness o’ ournl’ says I. 

“ ‘ What?’ says John. ‘ “ Whatsomeber you do 
to de leas’ o’ dese!””’ 

“ This, Norman,” Miss Lockwood said, “ is the 
prelude to the story I told you. It is my firm 
conviction that General Warren, knowingly and 
intentionally drove from his door his own grand- 
child. If so, and it can be proved, the whole 
Warren estate belongs to her — or will, at the 
General’s death, for the property is entailed, and 


Behind Plastered Walls. 31 

goes to the eldest child^ and not to the eldest son, 
as does most entailed property. Lena is I am sure 
the only representative of the Warren family, 
but there seems no possibility of establishing 
the claim, and I have therefore never mentioned 
to her one word as to her lineage. My straight- 
ened circumstances have rendered it impossible 
for me to even attempt to institute a search as 
to the marriage of her mother and father, though 
I should not have known how to begin, had it 
been otherwise. 

“The little I have will of course be left for 
Lena, but it will be only this little home, for all 
income ceases at my death, as I shall die leaving 
no descendants. To you, Norman, I shall leave 
my child, in the full conviction that you will 
cheerfully accept the legacy, for I know you are 
abundantly able — and supply my place in so far 
as a man can. She trusts you as she would 
never trust another, I am sure, and so trusting, 
though she has a very strong will, can be easily 
guided by you. ” 

“Years hence, my dear teacher and friend,’^ 
Norman said, feelingly, “ I will cheerfully ac- 
cept the responsibility. But preliminary steps 
towards establishing Lena’s claim that she is the 
legitimate child of Lewis Warren, may be begun 
at any time. How to begin and where, I do not 
know, but would suggest that some one, you or I, 
perhaps, see the General. He may be more 


32 


Behhid Plastered Walls. 


lenient, less bitter now than he was sixteen years 
ago. First of all I would tell Lena herself all 
that you know of her history.” 

“ Not for worlds, Norman ! Her young life 
would be blighted ! Not until her paternity shall 
be fully established, or until my death, would 
I have her told one word. She would be restless 
and unhappy. I have assured her that her lineage 
is honorable, but beyond that she knows nothing. 
To let her know that there is a doubt, or any 
question, as to that, would be to render her miser- 
able. 1 have everything, all that I have told you 
and more, written; when I am gone, she will surely 
know all that I know. Whether sooner, depends 
upon what you may possibly discover. Though 
only sixteen Lena is more a woman than most girls 
at twenty. She has always had a thirst for knowl- 
edge, has been a hard student, and although she 
thinks herself ignorant, never having attended 
school, she really has a good education — she is 
perfect in all that she has studied — but the child 
yearns for more. If I had means, she should never 
lack for opportunity. She is also a girl of very 
deep feelings, and once they become stirred, she 
will become extremely happy or very miserable. 
If I may but see her married and settled — but that 
is unlikely. She is very young, and I — well, truth 
to tell, I have for some time felt that my taking 
off will be sudden, and I know it may come at 
any moment. I so told Dr. Lenox, and he ac. 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


33 


knowledged that I may be right. You know, 
Norman, what that signifies! Hence my anxiety 
to consult you with regard to Lena, to provide 
for her future, so far as possible, before you go 
away from us. And now having done so, I feel 
relieved. After your return from your wedding 
tour, I shall want to see you once more before 
your removal to New Haven. I have not the 
pleasure of an acquaintance with your intended, 
Norman, but as she has been your betrothed 
since your childhood, you must know her 
thoroughly, and that is the best guarantee for 
your happiness. I do not like hasty marriages, 
they are so apt to prove disappointing !” 

“ Yes, Clara and 1 have known each other so 
long, and been engaged so long, that marriage 
has seemed a matter of course, to both of us. 
Our parents are life-long friends, and the mar- 
riage promises to cement friendships aind bring 
happiness on all hands.” 

“ I am glad, and wish all happiness to all. But 
you will leave sad hearts in Essex. Poor Lena 
and I shall sadly miss your friendly calls. We 
make and have few friends, and can hardly spare 


one. 


34 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


CHAPTER V. 

Norman Despard’s wedding at the bride’s 
house in Boston, was a thing of the past. Prior 
to an extended wedding trip, they were visiting 
the bridegroom’s parents. At the church, on a 
bright Sabbath, Miss Lockwood and Lena had 
met the bride and were formally introduced. 
The bride smiled sweetly into Miss Lockwood’s 
face, but as Lena was led forward by Norman, 
and presented, the smile left her face, as she ex- 
tended the tips of her gloved fingers and greeted 
her with a stately bow. Lena touched the half 
proffered hand, slightly returned the bow, and 
turned away, her eyes full of tears, and her heart 
full of resentment. 

To-morrow, love,” Miss Lockwood said to 
Lena, as they were walking home, we must 
make our promised call upon the bride.” 

“ You may go. Mother dear, but I shall never, 
of my own volition, enter that woman’s pres- 
ence.” 

They had met but for an instant, but in that 
instant Lena had recognized in Norman’s wife, 
an antagonist. Without understanding at all, 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


35 


why, she felt that Norman Despard’s wife was 
her foe. Yet the reason, though beyond the 
ken of this child, was not far to seek. Clara 
Steelman was a beauty — a spoiled one, narrow- 
minded, and jealous of every pretty face. 
Hence, Lena’s brilliant beauty, surpassing her 
own, froze the graciousness with which she had 
greeted Miss Lockwood, and steeled her heart 
against the young girl, but a few years, as she 
imagined, her junior, and the pet, as she knew, 
of her husband. 

My dear, she is Norman’s wife.” 

“ More’s the pity. Oh, Mother, I wish it were 
otherwise.” 

“ She is a beautiful woman, and has a most be- 
witching smile. My first impulse was to fold 
her to my heart, but her expression suddenly 
changed.” 

Yes, Mother, I plainly saw the change, just 
when her eye fell upon me. She is very beauti- 
ful, and when she smiled so sweetly upon you, I 
could have hugged her. But the next minute 
she froze me, and I have ever since felt a repug- 
nance to her that will not leave me.” 

'' But you must overcome it, Lena. She is 
Norman’s wife, and he, you know, is our best 
friend. It will hardly do for us to love him and 
at the same time entertain bitter feelings towards 
his wife. He must not know of such ifeelings.” 


36 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


I am but a poor dissembler, Mother, and so 
must keep away from them.” 

I fancied that Norman looked hurt when you 
turned from his wife without uttering a word. 
It was so unlike you, too !” 

“ It cannot be helped, it was impossible to 
meet such frigidity and hatred with warmth 
and trust. The words of greeting which I in- 
tended to speak to Norman’s wife, I could not 
speak, so turned away without attempting to say 
anything. I hoped that Norman did not notice it, 
but if he did he must know the reason,” 

“ Unfortunately, he is unlikely to. He was 
looking at you, and with the change in your face 
came a puzzled, pained look to his. As you 
turned away, he looked into his wife’s face, but 
she was smiling as sweetly as an angel, and 
elevated her brow in affected astonishment at 
your actions ! It is this that troubles me. It 
seems to indicate that she dissembles. Yet why 
it should be so I cannot conceive.” 

“ It will not trouble me, Mother. It must not 
vex you. It is of no consequence whatever.” 

“ It is of consequence, Lena, that any one 
should entertain unfriendly feelings toward us — 
of far more consequence to us, that we should 
feel unfriendly toward any one ! Besides I 
would that nothing should ever mar the beauty 
of the friendly regard in which Norman ha§ 
ever held us and we him,” 


Behmd Plastered Walls, 


37 


“ Oh, there shall not, Mother ! Norman we 
have known — always! He can never misjudge 
us.” 

One can never be sure as to the influence, 
for weal or for woe, that a wife may exert upon 
her husband. Our meeting with Norman’s wife 
does not seem propitious. Yet we must hope 
for the best, and see to it that there shall be no 
manifestation of unfriendliness on our part.” 

'‘There will not be. Mother. She will never 
call upon us, I am sure. She will very soon re- 
turn to the city, and we shall never meet. We 
shall greatly miss Norman, but better never see 
him than be at open enmity with his beautiful 
wife, which I feel we should be, were we to 
meet frequentl3^” 

Miss Lockwood thought it wise to discuss the 
subject no further. She understood the nature 
of the child she had brought to young woman’s 
estate, perfectly. While her nature was open 
and frank when frankness was encouraged, warm 
and reciprocal when met by warmth — it was re- 
served, proud, almost frigid when frigidity and 
pride confronted her. And her intuition and 
her acumen were quick and keen, so that almost 
at the first glance her opinions as to character 
were formed, and once formed were all but un- 
changeable. Remembering this, yet hoping 
that in time Norman’s wife and Lena might be- 
come friends, Miss Lockwood goncliided to say no 


38 Behhid Plastered Walls. 

more, but to endeavor to dissuade Lena from 
adhering to a resolution hastily formed, not to 
call upon the bride. Still she knew Lena too 
well to hope for much in that direction. 

“ Perhaps,” she said, just as they were entering 
the little dooryard — and remembering that 
Norman was to call at the cottage in reference 
to matters talked about at their last interview, 
before he should go to the city — perhaps 
Norman will bring his wife when he calls, for he 
promised to come on business. Did I tell you, 
Lena ?” 

“ No Mother, you did not. But he will not 
bring her. She would refuse to come should he 
ask her. I hope he will come, however. I 
would like to see him once more !” 

Miss Lockwood entered the cottage, but Lena 
lingered. Seating herself on a little rustic 
settle, she threw an arm over the neck of Bruno, 
the big St. Bernard, a gift of Norman. 

“ Dear old Bruno,” Lena said, I want to see 
your master once more ! Once I said, once / Oh, 
shall I see him but once ? Alas, alas, now our 
ways diverge. Why could he not have remained 
here ? Why should he marry, and go away ? 
And if he must, why should not his wife have 
loved me as he has — why not let me love her as 
I have loved him 

“ Lena’s eyes had a wistful look as she lifted 
them to the blue mountains in the distance, and 


Behind Plastered Walls. 39 

saw the beautiful view presented, and especially 
the little stream she loved so well, that threaded 
its circuitous way through meadows and valleys 
for miles, for the cottage, though far below the 
big hill upon which stood “ the Hall,” was on an 
eminence that commanded a view for many 
miles. 

“ The mountains remain ever,” she said. ‘^The 
grain will wave on in the wind, the water will 
course its way — all will be the same, yet how dif- 
ferent; the birds will sing, too, as sweetly, my mar- 
tens will occupy their house as they have done 
every summer since Norman built it, and will 
cleave the air as gracefully with their black, glossy 
wings in the years to come, and I shall watch 
them — but alone. We have been together so 
much, he has taught me so much. But now, his 
life will be bright and beautiful, while mine must 
be dark and dreary. Yet why ? Have I not my 
darling mother ? Oh, how I wish she were in- 
deed my mother ; yet she has been more than 
mother. No mother could have done more for 
me, and I am ungrateful thus to repine. 
No, I am not ungrateful,” she soliloquized. ‘‘ I 
do love her with my whole heart. She is every- 
thing to me, and I will be everything to her. For 
her happiness will I live, for her sake will I re- 
press every longing of my soul to penetrate the 
mysteries of my life, to learn who and what I 
am ! What matters it now ? While Norman 


40 Behind Plastered Walls. 

was there, my one intimate, it was but natural 
that I should want to feel myself his equal. But 
now that he is gone forever out of my life, what 
matters it ? In all my efforts to acquire knowl- 
edge, to master music, to perfect myself in all 
things, his commendation has been my chief in- 
centive, my coveted reward. And when gained 
how my heart has been delighted ! And yet I 
know so little after all.” 

Lena’s meditations were interrupted by a 
growl from Bruno, but this was immediately fol- 
lowed by the wagging of his huge tail as he 
jumped toward the little wicket. 

“ Down, Bruno, dirty fellow. Do you think 
me an interloper, to be pushed backward through 
the gate ? Good afternoon, Lena. I saw you at 
church, but before I could reach you you were 
off like a shot.” 

“ Good afternoon, Mr. Bernard Durand,” Lena 
said, frankly extending her hand. “If I was off 
like a shot, what hindered you from following 
like a cannon ball as usual, instead of crawling 
like a snail ?” 

“ A whole load of cousins from the city, whom 
I had to take home, after congratulating the 
happy couple. Was not the bride beautiful ?” 

“Very.” 

“ I almost envied Norman, for beauty such as 
his bride possesses one seldom meets.” 

“ If beauty of character is combined with such 


Behind Plastered Walls. 41 

personal charms, he is to be envied, surely, 
but ” 

Can you doubt it ?” 

“Doubt? Why, I have seen her but once, 
spoken with her not at all, how could I doubt, 
or why should I ?” 

“ That was a foolish question, surely, Lena,** 
Bernard admitted, “ but I fancied not the man- 
ner of her greeting when a certain friend of mine 
was presented.’* 

“You saw it ?” 

“ I saw it and marvelled ! I can account for it 
only in one way. She is of a jealous disposition, 
and seeing a beauty that outrivaled her own, 
was thrown off her guard.” 

“ Oh, I misunderstood you. I thought you 
meant her meeting with me ! I was so cha- 
grined at that, that I hastened away and missed 
the play, it seems. Who was she — the beauty — 
your cousin ?” 

“ No, a friend who had never met her, as you 
had not.” Lena heeded not the emphasis, and 
did not make the application. “ However, I 
hope we are deceived. If not, we shall not re- 
gret that she is not to reside here.” 

“ Oh, fie, Bernard ! What a commentary 
upon gallantry is that?” 

“ Well, a truce to wives. I came not to dis- 
cuss them, but am commissioned by my sister to 
ask you to join us to-morrow in a family picnic. 


42 


Behind Plastered W ills. 


just us young folks, with our cousins from New 
Haven, and a few Yale students. Will you join 
us ?” 

“ How many?” 

“ Twelve — including you.” 

“ I so dread meeting strangers from the city. 
You know I am awkward and timid.” 

“ Timid — yes ! Awkward — I deny ! Lena 
Lockwood awkward ! I would not like to have 
any one else say that.” 

“Would you really champion my cause?” 
Lena asked, laughing. 

“Would I not ? But there will never be an 
opportunity.” 

“ To prove that I value your good opinion, 
and your sister’s kind remembrance, you may 
say that I will be one of the picnicers, provided 
always that Mother consents. She has not been 
feeling well of late, and I dislike leaving her 
alone so long.” 

“ Why not let me send for her and take her to 
our house? Indeed, Mother suggested that, and 
it was part of my instructions to ask her. Sup- 
pose you add your support, perhaps that will in- 
fluence a favorable response.” 

Lena proceeded to the cottage, while Bernard 
stretched himself at full length upon the thick 
grass, and frolicked with Bruno, with which 
brute he seemed on very intimate terms. 

“ No, dear, I am obliged to Mrs. Durand, but 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


43 


I think best to apply myself to other matters to- 
morrow. It affords me just the opportunity that 
I want — but you shall go. It is very kind of 
them to ask you. You will enjoy yourself, I 
know,” Miss Lockwood said, in response to the 
invitation. 

“ And you are quite sure you will not need 
me ?” Lena asked. 

Quite, my dear. Your opportunities for en- 
joyment — for pleasures — are few enough, all too 
few ; so you must go.” 

“ Well, then, I will go, but I insist upon an 
early return.” 

The next morning, Norman Despard started 
on his wedding tour, without calling at the cot- 
tage ; and as the picnic party passed the depot 
where he and his bride stood awaiting the ap- 
proach of the train, handkerchiefs were waved 
to them, and theirs were waved in return. 
Lena's face beamed with pleased excitement, as 
she saw Norman, but his, she fancied, was un- 
usually sedate, even serious, for a bridegroom. 


44 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


CHAPTER VI. 

A LITTLE after the picnic party left the cottage 
Miss Lockwood stood at her wicket, with moist 
eyes, and watched the gay party ascend the hill, 
pass over the crown and disappear. 

When I think of the dear child’s future, and 
realize what it should be, I cannot restrain these 
foolish tears. But I will make one more effort 
in her behalf, to secure justice. Oh, Lewis, 
Lewis, why can you not relent !” 

In half an hour. Miss Lockwood stood with 
fluttering heart on the broad stone steps that led 
up to the wide veranda of Elmwood Hall. She 
turned, as she reached the veranda, and noted 
the extended view. The broad demesne of the 
Warrens* included thousands of acres of farm 
and timber land on either side. The lone maiden 
lady sighed as she thought of the past — of the 
bright expectations that had once been hers, re- 
garding owner and place. She rested a few 
moments, then rang the door-bell. 

The servant ushered her into the vast parlor, 
where she awaited the coming of the aristocratic 


Behind Plastered Walls, 45 

owner of Elmwood Hall. He soon entered with 
her card in his hand. 

“ I suppose this is the day of reckoning, come 
at last,” Lewis Warren said, as he hobbled to 
a seat. “ Well, what do you want?” 

Had the earth opened to swallow her. Miss 
Lockwood would not have been more amazed, 
scarcely less alarmed, then she was by this salu- 
tation ! And this was the man whose wife she 
had promised, and expected, to be, years ago, 
when they were young, and with whom she had 
never spoken save once since the desertion. 
She essayed to speak, but to save her life. Miss 
Lockwood could not utter a word. She simply 
sat like a dumb woman and gazed at the grizzled, 
wrinkled, aged, dried up, rheumatic, specimen 
of humanity before her. 

“ Well why don’t you speak? Do you want 
money ? How much ?” 

“I do not want your money !” 

You surely do not want me now, do you ?” 

“ No, Mr. Warren, I do not want you ! First 
of all, what I want and what would be more ac- 
ceptable, is civil treatment. Such treatment as 
anybody has a right to expect at the hands of 
every gentleman !” 

The quiet dignity with which this was said 
seemed to have a mollifying effect upon the 
whilom lover, who said : 

“ Pardon me, Miss Lockwood, but as this is 


46 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


your first visit to Elmwood Hall since — since — 
in many years, I presumed you fancied you had 
a grievance, a claim, perhaps, which could be 
cancelled by the payment of a sum of money, 
and ” 

I have no claim upon you, sir, and I have no 
grievance, I simply ask for justice ” 

“So I supposed! Well, if you don’t want 
money and don’t want me, what do you want?” 

“ Nothing, absolutely nothing, for myself. 
Much for another.” 

Miss Lockwood saw the General start. He 
waited for more, but she looked him straight in 
the face, for now she was speaking in behalf of 
right, in behalf of justice, and in the interest of 
one who was far dearer to her than her own life. 

“ Who might that other be ?” 

“ Your granddaughter !” 

“ Zounds!” the General thundered, as he stood 
upon his gouty feet. “ Woman, you know I 
have neither child nor grandchild.” 

“ Child, no. For my poor boy is gone, but 
you know he left a daughter.” 

“ Natural ! Call you such a thing my grand- 
child? Kith or kin of General Lewis Warren ?” 

“ Were she what you describe, none the less 
would she be bone of your bone, blood of your 
blood — your grandchild! But she was not born 
out of wedlock, sir, and you, who are the only 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


47 


one who dares to say it, should be ashamed to 
do so !" 

Her mother was a common woman, picked 
from the gutter, and you would foist her off- 
spring, of whose paternity no one can even guess, 
upon me — General Lewis Warren — as my grand- 
child ! Out upon you ! You must have changed 
much since your girlhood days.” 

“ Stop !” Miss Lockwood arose — but instantly 
resumed her seat. She could bear even this for 
Lena’s sake. ‘‘You will please not speak of 
my girlhood days. That history is sepulchred.” 
For your own sake — for mine — do not attempt 
its resurrection. Your son was legally married, 
and she who is known by the name of Lena 
Lockwood, is the fruit of that marriage !” 

“ I deny it! It is a damnable lie — coined by 
the vixen who entrapped my boy, to steal his 
inheritance. I looked well into this matter years 
ago, and there is not a scintilla of evidence upon 
which to predicate such a preposterous claim ! 
Nothing, Nothing !” 

“Tangible, legal evidence there may be none. 
Yet who can look into the face of Lena Lock- 
wood, and then into your own, sir, despite the 
induration that has come there, and for one 
moment doubt it ?” Oh, sir, be just. Take this 
child to your heart and home, give to her the 
prestige of an honored name, that is her rightful 


48 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


inheritance, and thus secure to yourself that 
peaceful, happy old age that comes from the 
doing of good, righteous deeds. Nay, I do be- 
lieve it will secure your very salvation !” 

Rather the damnation of all created things ! 
The play is ended — we will ring down the cur- 
tain !” 

The entrance of Thomas in response to his 
master’s summons, was most opportune. 

“ Thomas,” he said, “ send this lady home in 
the Mandau.’ ” Then bending low, he said, 

Miss Lockwood, I bid you good-morning,” and 
left the room. 

Miss Lockwood arose and left Elmwood Hall, 
first saying to Thomas that she would walk. 

Oh, to what degradation have I vainly sub- 
mitted for my darling’s sake? My one hope of 
all the years, that he might at the last relent — 
might own the relationship, might possibly 
perform one just act, has proven forlornly de- 
lusive. Oh, is it possible that I once loved 
that man — was once his promised bride ? Be 
still, poor heart !” 

She pressed hard her hand upon her wildly 
beating heart, and sat down upon a stone by the 
wayside that she might catch her breath and 
rest her weary frame. Was there a lingering 
spark of love for that wretch in her woman’s 
heart after all ? 

“ These spells come all too frequently nowa- 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


49 


days,” she thought. But I must control myself. 
I cannot leave her yet. Dear Lord,” she cried, 
passionately, oh, spare me yet a while, for her 
sake.” 

She sat a while until more composed, the 
heart-beats were still rapid, but she arose and 
moved slowly homeward. Soon she was com- 
pelled to sit down again, this time on a displaced 
rail from the roadside fence. Just as she be- 
came seated, the landau from the Hall drove 
up, stopped, and General Lewis Warren stepped 
out and walked towards her. 

“You relent! You will acknowledge her?” 
Miss Lockwood said, eagerly. ^ 

“ Never ! But you are ill, you will ride I” 

“ 111 I am, sir, assuredly ; but not sufficiently 
so to admit of my accepting courtesy from Gen- 
eral Warren.” 

“ Be it so. General Warren never forces his 
civilities on any one, whether fit subject for the 
hospital, the lunatic asylum, or the poor-house P 
Miss Lockwood arose, though with much dif- 
ficulty, and leaning upon a stick she had picked 
up by the roadside, looked sternly into the dark- 
ened face before her a moment, then she said : 

“ It has remained for General Warren to ex- 
pose the very refinement of his brutality, by 
grossly insulting aged and enfeebled woman- 
hood. I can have no furtUer controversy with 
you, sir. Go your way !’*’ 


50 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


She tottered on, nor turned to look upon the 
enraged face that was demoniacal even in its old 
age. General Warren entered his landau and 
shouted: Home !” His intention had been to 

convey Miss Lockwood home, having been in- 
formed by Thomas that she had gone. But her 
reference to Lena had again maddened him, with 
the result we have seen. 


BeJimd Plastered Walls, 


51 


CHAPTER VII. 

Oh, Mother mine, such a lovely time as I 
have had ! Have you been very lonely ? But 
why have you no light ? Oh, Mother, you are 
ill? Mother!” 

Lena, as she entered the cottage on her return 
from the belated picnic, saw, in the dim light, 
the form of her mother sitting at the table in the 
center of the room, her head resting upon her 
hands. Receiving no answer to her questions, 
she thought her asleep. Quickly stepping to her 
mother’s side, she placed both arms around her 
and kissed her forehead. The contact of her 
warm lips with what she at once knew was 
cold, inanimate clay, appalled her. She uttered 
one piercing shriek, and fell senseless upon the 
floor. Hours after, her first conscious glance 
fell upon Bernard Durand, for the picnic party 
had heard the shriek and simultaneously the 
young men and women had rushed into the 
house. A lamp was lighted, and the dead body 
of Miss Lockwood sitting at the table, and the 
unconscious form of Lena upon the floor, were 
discovered. Dr. Lenox was summoned, and re- 
storatives administered to the stricken girl. 


52 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


Miss Lockwood, the Doctor declared, had been 
dead several hours. She had been troubled with 
her heart, but had exacted a promise from him to 
tell no one, last of all, Lena. 

Where am I Lena asked. Have I 
dreamed ?” Then as her mind became more clear 
and took in the situation, she moaned piteously. 

Mother, oh, my poor, dear Mother. Oh, take 
me to her, Bernard ! Let me go to her!’' 

She essayed to arise, but the strong arms of 
Bernard Durand were around her, and she was 
carried, as easily as though she had been a child, 
into the adjoining room, where her “ mother ” had 
been laid upon her bed, and she was placed in a 
chair by her side. 

Oh, Doctor,” she moaned, “ is she really gone ? 
And she was all alone I I am so sorry, so sorry 
that I went ! I would not have gone but that 
she told me she wished to be alone, she wanted 
to do some writing.” 

“ She evidently did write to Norman Despard, 
for there is a large letter on the table directed to 
him. There is also an envelope directed to you, 
and she had apparently commenced a letter to 
you when stricken down,” the Doctor explained. 

“ Oh, let me see it ! let me see it !” 

The envelope was placed in her hand, and she 
read, Norman Despard, to be opened when 
Lena becomes eighteen years of age.” 

“ The letter, my letter,” said Lena, eagerly. 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


53 


The sheet of paper was handed to her, but all 
that it contained was “ Lena ! oh, my darling, 
my darling, my darling ! Oh, must I tell it?” 

Then there was a large blot as though the pen 
had dropped from her hand and rolled over the 
paper. All that had been mysterious concerning 
Lena’s life, thus became involved in impenetra- 
ble darkness. Her mother’s death put the seal 
of everlasting secrecy upon all that Lena wished 
to know of her own life, which Miss Lockwood 
had repeatedly assured her should be made 
known to her in good time. 

They buried Honora Lockwood in the 
cemetery adjacent, and Lena was taken back to 
her home, she refused to go elsewhere. So Ruth 
Despard remained with her, while a neighbor’s 
son, a lad of fourteen years, was to stay nights 
until the return of Norman. Bernard Durand 
was a daily visitor. 

Alone, alone, alone !” Lena said to her friend. 
*Hnall the wide world not a relative that I know 
of. Oh, my Mother !” 

No, you are not alone, dear, nor will you be 
left alone. There may be instructions left with 
Norman. Surely that big letter must contain 
something. It seems such a pity that Norman 
should have married and gone away just at this 
time. But he must be back soon. Meantime, I 
shall stay with you until you can come with us, 
for I am sure you will come, You must/' 


54 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


“ Ruth, you are so kind — all of you. But I 
could not do that. I know nothing as to what I 
may have ; but Mother has given me to under- 
stand that she had but little. But life is before 
me, and some employment I must find. It will 
never do for me to live here, I would not dare ! 
And to accept of favors continually, even from 
the best of friends, oh, I could not do that ! I 
have only my independence, stripped of that, I 
shall be poor indeed. I wish that Norman was 
here. I have been so dependent upon his coun- 
sel all my life, and he will be here no more ! 
Oh, what shall I do, what shall 1 do ? Where 
am I to go ?” 

“ Home with me, dear. That is the first and 
only thing to be thought of — at least, now. I 
am quite sure Norman would so decide,” Ruth 
said, persuasively. 

“You are very, very kind, dear Ruth. But, 
oh, I cannot think ! It has all come so suddenly ! 
Had Mother but told me of her weakness! Had 
I but known — had I but known 1” 

“ Had you known, dear child, you would have 
been miserable always, unfitted for any enjoy- 
ment.” 

“ Enjoyment ! Oh, Ruth, would you have me 
enjoying myself, while my dear Mother was dy- 
ing? It is just that, that so distresses me.” 

“You could have done nothing for her in all 
the months that she has been ailing, Lena, and it 


Behind Plastered Walls, 55 

was best, as your mother decided, that you 
should not know. You could have done nothing 
bnt make yourself miserable.” 

“ Done nothing ! Oh, I could have so light- 
ened every burden! I could have loved and 
tended her!” 

Dear child, hush ! You could have done 
nothing that the most loving daughter could do 
that was left undone. You have nothing to re- 
proach yourself with. Norman always spoke 
in the highest praise of your devotion to your 
mother.” 

‘^Commendation from such a source is very 
sweet to me, Ruth, and I am so glad to have 
won Norman’s approval. But I can see now 
how many little things I might have done.” 

“ Dear Lena, the truest living will show, must 
show some mistakes. But the mistakes of your 
life have not been many nor grievous. And as 
for filial duties — you, I am quite sure, have left 
none unfulfilled.” 

“ Thank you, oh, so much ! But the obliga- 
tion— the debt I owed to her — my more than 
Mother !” 

“ Has been cancelled by a life of such rare de- 
votion as even mothers seldom experience.” 

“ Cancelled ! Oh, Ruth, you do not know, 
you cannot know ! She was not my own 
mother.” 


56 


Behhid Plastered Walls, 


‘‘ I have always known that, you dear child, 
of course. How could she be?” 

Miss Ruth’s query brought a bright smile to 
her own face, and she was glad to see the reflex 
in the face before her. 

“ Having known you since your babyhood, 
dear, and Miss Lockwood as Miss Lockwood for 
twice as long, for I am older than Norman, 
you know, I must know that! But beyond 
that I know nothing, for Miss Lockwood always 
positively refused to say one word as to you or 
your origin. You were simply ‘ My child,’ and 
that is all your self-appointed guardian would 
ever say.” 

“ And for all you know I may be ” 

“ Some princess Ruth interrupted. 

Rest assured, dear,” she continued, '*your ori- 
gin cannot be ignoble, for ‘ figs do not come from 
thistles.’” 

*‘You will comfort me, you do comfort me. 
Still, oh, I am alone — so alone ! The future 

holds out no promise, no sign of promise ” 

And you are but sixteen !” 

‘‘ Old enough to see — to think — to feel and to 
know.” 

Old enough to be a good girl, stop worry- 
ing, and to await as comfortably, as contentedly 

as possible, the return of Norman, when ” 

Norman, Norman, oh, Norman I Why, why 
has he gone ! Oh, Ruth, he will return, of course, 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


57 


but he will be here nevermore as before. He 
will not remain, and soon, soon I shall see him 
no more !” 

The child covered her face and sobbed aloud. 
The fountains of her grief were stirred again, 
and Ruth deemed it best to let her weep unre- 
strainedly. But for an hour she moaned, and 
fearing she would make herself ill, Ruth endeav- 
ored by every artifice to divert her mind from 
her sorrows, but ineffectually. Kindly she 
chided her, and at the last said : 

“ Dear Lena, you must cease your mourning 
and dry your tears. It is weak and almost 
wicked. Norman, I am afraid, would be ashamed 
of you — and scold you !” 

“ Ashamed, Ruth, ashamed ! Norman ashamed 
of me ! Oh, no, no, no — not that, not that !” 

“ I am afraid he would scold you !” Ruth said, 
now laughing. 

“Scold me! Well, I could bear that. But that 
he should be ashamed of me ! Oh, I could 
not live, I should not wish to live were Norman 
ashamed of me ! In that case, Ruth, 1 should wish 
to die I He must never be ashamed of me.” 

Lena lay composedly in Ruth’s arms, at last, 
but Ruth’s eyes were looking into space and her 
thoughts were spanning the years ahead. 


58 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


CHAPTER VIII. 

“ Norman, I cannot approve the plan you pro- 
pose with regard to Lena. It is true that she is 
restless and has been so ever since she came with 
us three months ago, but in my judgment she 
had far better remain here as long as we can pre- 
vail upon her to remain. If she could go to 
school and have something to occupy her 
mind ” 

“ There is no use in talking of that, Ruth. She 
is perfect in Yale’s Curriculum, for so the Pro- 
fessors who examined her declare, and that being 
the case, schools^ even colleges, are out of the 
question. Miss Lockwood was more of a scholar 
than we supposed, and Lena’s education, so far as 
ordinary book-learning is concerned, is well-nigh 
perfect. Hence she must turn to other branches. 
She loves music, and she has a lovely voice to 
be cultivated. She wants to perfect herself in 
music that she may teach and become indepen- 
dent. With that idea as an incentive, though it 
shall never be carried out, she will devote time 
and attention to it and her mind will have oc- 
cupation. With us she will have every oppor- 


Behind Plastered Walls, 5g 

tunity for culture. Professor Hauer stands 
amon^ the highest in the profession, and Lena 
will have the best instruction possible.” 

“ What you say is all true, Norman. Still, I 
advise against your proposition. If I must speak 
more plainly, I am afraid your wife and Lena 
will clash, and your household be made un- 
happy.” 

“ Pshaw, Ruth, you borrow unnecessary trou- 
ble. Clara does not object and Lena will never 
antagonize any one. She is too angelic, herself.’' 

“ Nonsense, Norman ! I thought you had a 
better conception of Lena’s character — a better, 
truer intuition as regards human nature. Lena 
is a lovely girl, but by no means an angel, and 
only by a great stretch of the imagination can 
she be termed ‘ angelic.’ She has a very intense 
nature, and is fixed, almost immovable in her 
likes and dislikes.” 

And so, sister mine, you think that Lena and 
Clara will dislike each other, heartily, for such is 
the drift of your remarks, and that there will 
thus be a skeleton in the closet of my home. 
From this you would shield me, eh ?” 

I have said nothing like this, brother, but 
oftentimes palpable truths are thoughtlessly 
foreshadowed in grim metaphor. Now that the 
idea of such a contingency has come to you, 
would it not be wise to bar the door against the 
entrance of the thing itself ?” 


6o 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


“ Did I deem such a thing possible, Ruth ! 
But, pshaw !” 

Have you broached the subject to Lena ?” 

Not in the form of an interrogatory — but 
have spoken of it as a matter of course.” 

“ And what did she say ?” 

Really I do not know that she said anything.’' 

Perhaps you had best consult her, Nor- 
man.” 

She is my ward and will of course conform 
to my wishes.” 

“ Of course, brother. But Lena may have 
chosen differently.” 

“ Lena will do as I wish — that I know.” 

“ But you would not constrain, surely ?” 

Ruth, Lena will acquiesce in whatever I 
deem best for her.” 

“ Acquiesce, yes — perhaps. But, Norman, to 
elect to do is preferable to mere acquiescence.” 

“ Lena has no option, Ruth. She is destitute, 
as you know. She must live, and for the pres- 
ent, her home had best be beneath my roof. She 
can pursue her study of music, etc., and be a 
companion for Clara, at the same time, who is her- 
self a good musician. Depend upon it, there 
will be no clashing.” 

“ Your mind is evidently fixed upon the ex- 
periment, Norman, so I will offer no further op- 
position. Still, I think it would be wiser, every 
way better, for Lena to remain with me. Our 


Behind Plastered Walls, 6i 

parents are more than glad to have her, and she 
could have every facility for musical culture 
with us. But I see this annoys you. I will say 
no more. Only promise me that at the first sign 
of disagreement between Clara and Lena, you 
will consent to Lena’s coming to me.” 

“ Lena will, of course, be free at all times to 
come to you, if she so desires. But here she 
comes. As you wish it, I will * consult’ with her. 
Lena !” 

The young thing, bright, despite the sombre 
apparel, came quickly forward at the summons, 
with Bruno, now her inseparable companion, at 
her side. 

“ Come in, dear,” Norman said, we were just 
discussing you, and your arrival is, therefore, 
opportune. What good fortune do you think is 
in store for you ?” 

Ruth’s face beamed upon her young favorite 
as she took possession of both hands and kissed 
her. 

“ Good fortune ?” Lena said, returning the 
caress. Your love and Norman’s is the best! 
What next ?” 

Only that you are to become a pupil of Pro- 
fessor Haner, whose proficiency we shall expect 
you will one day rival !” 

“Oh, dear Ruth— and Norman! Can I ever 
repay you such goodness ! But can I, ought I 
to become so deeply your debtor? Oh, I would 


62 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


not, I would not, were it not that I shall one day, 
I am sure, be able to repay you ” 

“ That will do, Lena,” Norman said, his face 
all aglow with pleasure at the joyousness with 
which he thought his proposition had been re- 
ceived. “You know I am your guardian. Let 
there be no talk of repayment by my young 
ward.” 

Lena said nothing, but she fondled the warm 
hand of Ruth which she still imprisoned. 

“And now that so much is settled, how many 
days will be necessary to devote to packing a 
trunk or two, to go and take your first lesson?” 

Lena laughed heartily for the first time since 
the burial of her mother. 

“ Is it necessary to take a trunk every time I 
go for a lesson?” she laughingly added. 

“ No — I rather think not. Only for the first. 
You and Clara can arrange that matter later !” 
Norman said. 

“ Clara !” Lena said, looking from sister to 
brother, from brother to sister. “Is Clara to 
come here ?” 

“ Oh, no, dear !” Ruth said, in her gentlest 
tones, “but you know Norman and Clara expect 
you to take your lessons from their home.” 

“ From their home ? You mean at their home ! 
The Professor will come there ; will not that be 
unnecessarily expensive?” 

“ Not at their home, but from there. It can 


BeJihid Plastered Walls. 63 

be much more easily arranged when you are 
there, you know, dear.” 

“Ruth! — Norman!” — she looked pleadingly 
for an instant into first one face then the other. 
Then a change came over her. Her face hard- 
ened — her thin lips were tightly pressed, but only 
for an instant. Then in a tone singularly self- 
possessed and controlled she said : 

“ Ruth ! — Norman ! — my best, almost my only 
friends, do you deem me so much a child that 
you must talk to me by innuendo ? I beg you 
then speak to me in your plainest English, for 
such only can children comprehend.” 

“ Did you not know, dear, that you are to live 
with Clara and Norman, at least a part of the 
time ?” 

Ruth felt the nails of the little hand that 
pressed hers, almost bury themselves in her 
flesh, as all color left the fair young face. 

“ No, Ruth,” she said very, gently, “ I did not 
know.” Then raising her eyes she asked : 
“ How should I, having never been told ?” 

“ Lena, child,” Norman said, “ knowing your 
musical aspirations, it is my determination, as 
your guardian, to give you every facility to per- 
fect yourself. At my home in the city you can 
best do this. Your lessons can be more frequent, 
better judges can hear your voice and your play- 
ing, and note your progress !” 

“ And I can the quicker repay !’* 


64 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


'‘You see the advantages you will have from 
a city residence,” Norman interrupted. “ You 
are satisfied ?” 

“ I do appreciate your great kindness Norman, 
your good intentions. But — but — oh, Ruth, is 
there no other way ?” 

“ Norman thinks this the very best way, dear, I 
am sure, or he never would have proposed it?” 

“ Enough, enough ! If I am unreasonable, bear 
with me. Oh, Norman you must know best ! 
Let it be so — let it be so.” 

Her head dropped on Ruth’s shoulder, and 
Ruth expected to hear the long pent up sobs 
break forth, but a slight trembling of the frame 
which soon passed, was all that told of the in- 
ward struggle. 

“Lena, dear,” Norman said, “ it is for the best 
I am sure, and it is also your choice, is it not?” 

“ My choice ! — my choice ! Oh, Norman, beg- 
gared, how can I choose, but to do as you wish ?” 

She walked out upon the grassy lawn and sat 
upon a rustic seat. Bruno put his big paws upon 
the seat at her side, and licked her face. Lena’s 
arms encircled his neck and she burst into un- 
controllable sobs. Affection, manifest sympathy, 
even from a brute, she could not withstand just 
now. 


Behhid Plastered Walls, 


65 


CHAPTER IX 

Lena, I commend to you the study of physi- 
ology ! With all your boasted knowledge, you 
seem totally oblivious to the fact that nerves con- 
stitute an important part of human beings 
This perpetual drumming is enough to convert 
the whole household into a set of lunatics 

“Have you a headache again to-day, Clara ?’' 
Lena asked, rising and closing the piano. 

“ Oh, no — pray do not stop practising upon 
my account, by any means ! If you are tired, 
why of course that is another matter, I have 
become so nervous that really I am compelled to 
go out for a walk. I may be home for lunch and 
I may not.” 

Lena endeavored to fix her attention on her 
music as Clara left the room, but she found it 
impossible. 

For nearly two years she had been an inmate 
of Norman Despard’s city home. The scene 
above recorded, or one similar to it, had been of 
almost daily occurrence. From the first there 
had been no affinity, no congeniality, rather an- 
tagonism between Lena and Clara. Selfish in 


/ 


66 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


every fibre of her nature had Clara proved. And 
as plainly jealous of Lena’s increasing beauty 
and of Norman’s interest in and affection for his 
ward. Had she determined to render the 
orphan’s residence beneath her husband’s roof 
unendurable, she could scarcely have succeeded 
better. By some subtle method she would 
continue to thwart her every purpose. By plead- 
ing nervous headaches she had retarded Lena’s 
progress in music, for the girl ceased practice 
the moment a complaint, which was usually con- 
veyed through innuendo, reached her. She 
would retire to her own room and pass the time 
in reading or other occupation, until Norman’s 
return, when she would enter the parlor, for he 
had expressly told her that he expected her to 
pass the hours when he was at home, with the 
family, whenever that was possible. 

On this particular day Clara returned about 
the middle of the day, and soon after lunch Nor- 
man came in. 

'' Why, what a surprise you have given me !” 
Clara said, going to him for the usual kiss. 
What is going to happen?” 

“Nothing serious, I guess, my dear ! only I 
have tickets for the operatic matinee! You’re 
not sorry ?” Norman said, laughing, and patting 
the beautiful face. 

“ Sorry ! Oh, you dear boy !” 

The beautiful face was raised to him, the beau- 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


67 


tiful eyes looked into his, the beautiful lips were 
pursed and temptingly near. Norman’s arms 
encircled her waist and he again kissed his 
beautiful wife. 

“ More than two years have I been your wife, 
Norman, but your lips have lost none of their 
sweetness ! kiss me again !” 

Norman gave the desired kiss and was repaid 
with interest. 

“Where is Lena?” he asked. 

“ In the sulks again, I am afraid,” Clara said, 
shrugging her pretty shoulders. “ When com- 
pelled, as I sometimes am in very self-defense, to 
ask her either to close the parlor door or play a 
little more lightly — you know she pounds dread- 
fully — there is always an explosion !” 

“ Explosion, Clara !” 

“Yes, an explosion. But then I do not mind 
it at all, now ! When in the neighborhood of 
volcanoes you know, one naturally expects an 
eruption, and so I have gotten used to it. The 
only thing I dread, and I detest that, is the long 
period of sulking that succeeds every explosion. 
It is dreadful to be so vindictive.” 

“She must indeed be changed, “ Norman said, 
abstractedly. “And yet I must say she has 
shown nothing of such a spirit in my presence !” 

“ Of course not ! Do not mistake her. 
Frowns are not for you ! not {ox gentlemen! Oh, 
no ! Lena is fax tpA politic for that ! Such ex- 


68 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


hibitions are always held in reserve for ladies. 
But never mind dear, surely if I can endure with- 
out complaint, you need not worry !” 

“Well," changing the subject, “just tell Lena 
about the opera, and ask her to hurry." 

“ Must she go, Norman? I so seldom have an 
opportunity of seeing you alonCy that I almost 
covet every opportunity to do so." 

“ This invitation came from Professor Haner, 
and includes Lena. She is his favorite pupil, you 
know." 

“ Well, then, I will call her." 

Clara went out into the hall and called up the 
stairs to Lena : 

“ I am going to the operatic matinee. Would 
you like to go ?" 

“ Thank you," Lena said, hesitatingly ; then 
added, “ but I have practised only two hours to- 
day, and I promised Professor Haner to practice 
four every day, if possible. I am six hours be- 
hind this week, and I must make it up. No, 
thank you, I better not go," 

“Very well," Clara replied. Then turning to 
Norman, who had followed her into the hall, she 
said : “ With positively nothing else to do, there 
is no excuse for being behind with^her practice." 

Paying little attention to this remark, Norman 
called to his ward : 

“Lena! Professor Haner has sent me three 


Behhid Plastered Walls, 


69 

tickets for the opera. He expects you, and I 
want you to go. Will you go ?” 

At the sound of Norman’s voice Lena came 
bounding down the stairs her face radiant. No in- 
fluence had proved sufficiently powerful during 
the two years to divert her affections from her 
guardian, nor, if we might judge from the pleased 
look that came to his eyes as he beheld her, his 
from her. 

The Professor expects me and my guardian 
wants me to go. Will I go? W iWl not f Could 
I refuse ?” she asked, in very glee. 

“ It seems not,” came in Clara’s voice, from the 
parlor. A moment later she came to the stairs, 
all trace of vexation banished from her face. 
** Come, dear,” she said to Lena, let’s don our 
wraps, for we have no time to spare.” 

She wound her arms about the lithe form and 
thus they ascended the stairs even as twin sisters. 
At the turn at the head of the stairs Clara’s arm 
dropped from Lena’s form. 

“ This hall, nor any, nor any house is large 
enough for two — womens she said, and entered 
her room closing the door. 

“ Is this house a smithy and my heart an an- 
vil whose only province it is to be battered ?” 
Lena asked herself, as she entered the room. 
“ This is the tenth time that I have been invited 
in plain terms to leave this house. Oh, Bernard, 
I almost wish, sometimes, that I had consented to 


70 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


marry you, and gone to a home of my own. 
But no — oh, no ! Marriage without even the 
semblance of love, the only thing that sanctifies 
it. Oh, no, no ! I cannot do that, even to escape 
the continuous insult that I endure here. Oh, 
Norman, my dear guardian, did you but know, 
did you but know !” 

The tears were very near the surface, but the 
brave girl forced them back as she frequently 
did, for she would not let herself weep nowa- 
days. 

In three short weeks,” she presently said, I 
shall be eighteen and my own mistress. I shall 
then have my diploma and then, then ! Oh, 
shall I succeed ? I shall, of course, I must, I 
will be independent !” 


CHAPTER X. 

“ Lena, this is your eighteenth birthday, and I 
fondly imagined the cottage piano for your own 
room would please you more than anything I 
could give you, yet I found you in tears for the 
first time in your life, and positively declining to 
receive my present ! Will you frankly tell me 
why?” 

“ Norman, kindest of guardians, I cannot. 


Behind Plastered Walls, 71 

Believe me, it hurts me far more to reject your 
beautiful gifts than it does, or can, hurt you. But 
there are reasons good and sufficient which de- 
mand it. Please say no more about it, but send 
it back to the warerooms. Oh, send it back ! I 
cannot touch it. Oh, Norman, you cannot know, 
you cannot know !” 

“ I can see that you are unreasonable — obstin- 
ate.” 

“Norman! Pity me and say no more! I 
know 1 must seem to you willful, obstinate, un- 
grateful ! But do not, oh, do not tell me 
so !” 

“ Clara, can you account for such perverse- 
ness ?” Norman asked of his wife, who just then 
entered the room from an adjoining one. 

“ I can never account for any exhibitions of 
Lena’s idiosyncrasy. I have never been made 
the custodian of her confidences^ and my acumen 
is not sufficiently keen to penetrate the intrica- 
cies of such a character. She impresses me as 
one crossed in love, or as one who has “loved 
not wisely, but too well.” 

“ Nonsense, Clara ! sheer nonsense !” 

“ Well, you know once a girl is hopelessly in 
love she never reposes confidence in any one — 
especially ’ 

“ You have said enough, Mrs. Despard ! You 
should know that there is a limit to human en- 
durance. Even I may be goaded into a freedom 


72 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


of utterance that may not prove agreeable. For 
two long years I have taught myself to silently 
endure. And now, at the last, the ability to per- 
severe, to continue thus to the end, is what I 
most desire. Please permit me.” As she ceased 
speaking, Lena left the room. 

One of these days, Norman, even you will 
begin to learn something of that girl’s make-up — 
that is, if you are not too prejudiced.” 

“ Too prejudiced, Clara ! what do you mean ?” 

“ That you have ever been ready to champion 
that girl’s cause whenever there has been the 
slightest disagreement or unpleasantness because 
of her very peculiar character, you must admit. 
That she has come between, or striven to come 
between, you and me, you of course know. I 
have, for your sake, submitted to more than I can 
possibly submit to again. For your sake, Nor- 
man, I have submitted to all sorts of indignities 
from her, because she was your ward and desti- 
tute. My home has been made wretched by her; 
so wretched that I have been compelled for the 
sake of peace, to absent myself from it so much, 
that without knowing why, you have upbraided 
me time and again. She has pounded my piano 
until it is worn out, and now that it is ruined, 
you, instead of replacing it with a new one, as 
you should do, present her with one, as though 
in reward for destroying mine ! One would 


Behind Plastered Walls. 73 

think that she, not I, was the wife — I, not she, 
the dependent.” 

** It is strange, Clara, that / have made none of 
these discoveries!” 

“ Not at all ! Being predisposed always in her 
favor, while she is a consummate dissembler, and 
while I have, for your sake, deemed it best to be 
a martyr, rather than to expose her, it is not at 
all strange that you have remained in ignorance 
as to her true character. Never was man so 
deceived.” 

“ It seems to me that jyou must be deceived, as 
regards Lena. I know you greatly exaggerated 
in reference to the piano, for Professor Haner 
congratulated you on having such a fine instru- 
ment only the last time he was here, when he 
pronounced it as good as new, and of a tone 
which could not be matched anywhere. To 
me, Lena has seemed the most considerate and 
obliging of girls. Always amiable.” 

“ Of course ! As she is such a paragon of ex- 
cellence it is a wonder you did not marry her / 
She, ril warrant, would have been nothing 
loth !” 

Clara, such talk is unworthy of you. I wish 
to hear no more of it !” 

** I dare say not. I have long suspected that — 
but no matter ! I should have known that there 
never was a house large enough to hold two 
women on a parity ! Whenever the experiment 


74 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


has been tried, it has failed, and the wife has 
ever been the sufferer.” 

Clara, what possesses you to-day ? To what 
do these criminations tend ? Let me speak 
plainly. Ever since your first plaint concerning 
Lena, a year and a half ago, I have been on the 
constant watch for some basis for your charges 
against her. I have not been able to discover 
the first indication of a lack of respect on her 
part towards you. I am satisfied that you are 
becoming unreasonably morbid, or unreasonably 
prejudiced against my ward, and for that reason, 
have about made up my mind to grant her per- 
mission to teach music and be independent.” 

“It is time she did, but not here! I will 
not permit my house to be converted to any 
such purpose. Norman, it is time Lena left this 
house and earned her living! It is high time 
that she and her “ kindest of guardians ” found 
a parting of their ways. Already there is too 
much scandal concerning their intimacy ” 

“ Clara, stop ! You have prevaricated so long 
and so much without contradiction, that now, 
with no shadow of a blush mantling your face, 
you deliberately lie f No scandal does, or possi- 
bly can attach to this house, as no one knows 
better than you ! Never, save in your company, 
have Lena and I passed out of this house to- 
gether! Scandal ! All the scandal there can be 
will be of your creating, the outcome of a base- 


Behind Plastered Walls, 75 

less, insane jealousy, long shown, and now cul- 
minating in positive false accusation, deliberate, 
willful lying, about a character as pure as the 
angels in Heaven !” 

“ Norman Despard, to the last day of your 
life shall you rue this!” 

With flashing eyes and crimson face Clara fled 
from the parlor, rushed up the stairs and into her 
room, locking the door behind her. A moment 
later Norman knocked, but there was no re- 
sponse — again with the same result. 

Then he called to Lena, who came from her 
room to him. 

“ Lena,” he said, “ this is your eighteenth 
birthday. It is your right now to read the com 
munication which Miss Lockwood left for me. 
It contains the history of your life, my child, so 
far as Miss Lockwood knew it. I have endeav- 
ored during the past two years to add something 
to the information contained in it, but have met 
with no success. Here, after you have read this 
paper, we will talk more of it. I am going to the 
office, but will return by seven o’clock. Good- 
bye.” 

Lena held out her hand for the document. 
Norman placed it therein. As he said “ good 
bye ” their disengaged hands met in a clasp. 
His warm — her’s cold. Thus they stood looking 
into each other’s eyes. 

One other birthday, child,” Norman then 


76 Behhid Plastered Walls, 

said. '' Will you accept it from your guard- 
ian ?” 

He bent his head— she lifted her’s. Involun- 
tarily their lips met, and two kindred souls knew 
that the kiss was not one of mere affection but of 
passionate love — though the faintest suspicion of 
such a catastrophe had never until that instant 
dawned upon either ! 

“ God help me !” Lena said, as she slowly as- 
cended the stairs. 

“ God help me !” Norman groaned, as he de- 
scended the stairs and left the house. “ Help !” 
You should have said that prayer sooner, when 
help would have hindered ! 

Two hours later Mrs. Despard left the house. 
She soon returned and was followed by an ex- 
pressman who took down stairs and out of the 
house five large trunks. In a little while Mrs. 
Despard again went out, simply saying to the 
domestic that she called, “ I shall not be back 
to lunch.” 

In less than another hour Lena Lockwood 
crawled down the stairs, closely veiled, and 
carrying a hand satchel, and left the house un- 
observed. Poor, conscience-stricken Lena Lock- 
wood ! Before leaving she had deposited on the 
little table by the hall door a note, directed, 
‘‘Mr. Norman Despard.” In it she had writ- 
ten : 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


11 


“ It is best that I should go. Lena." 

On the arrival of the cottage piano, but a few 
short hours before, Clara had said : 

“ A cottage, Lena, how good of Norman, I am 
so glad ! Now like other ladies, I can have a 
piano in my own room all to myself — I am so 
tired of a grand !" 

The piano was placed in the parlor, however, 
for the time being. Clara took the key, opened 
the piano and struck a chord, but while the rich 
tone was still vibrating she saw an envelope tied 
to the rack directed to Lena Lockwood." She 
called to Lena, pointed to the envelope and arose. 

Lena took the unsealed envelope, took from it 
a slip of paper on which was written. 

“ To Lena Lockwood. A birthday gift from 
her guardian. 

Norman Despard." 

With heightened color and trembling with 
pleasure, she passed the paper to Clara, who 
read it, tossed it upon the piano and said with 
biting sarcasm : 

“ Woman is a wonderfully complex and wholly 
incomprehensible machine. It is strange that 
there should be inherent in all extremely young 
women or girls, an irresistible, insatiate yearning 
after other women’s husbands ; to the entrapping 
of whom all their energies are bent !" and left the 
room and her utterly dumbfounded hearer. 


78 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


CHAPTER XL 

last, dear Lena, at last I have found a 
clue. This much I hasten to let you know by 
note, the rest, not much as yet, I will tell you to- 
night. As ever, 

Norman.” 

‘‘This note, which Norman had dispatched to 
Lena early in the day, her birthday, that he had 
left her in tears, he found on the card table in 
the hall on his return home at night. That Lena 
did not meet him at the door, all eagerness to 
learn what he had discovered in relation to her 
father and mother, surprised him, until he saw 
his own unopened note, which he destroyed, on 
learning that both Lena and his wife were out. 
Then he saw the note directed to him. He 
opened it and read the few words that told him 
that Lena thought that it was best that she 
should go. 

“Go?” he said. “Go where? to take her 
lesson?” he asked. 

But why formally announce it in a note to 
him? He went up the stairs to his own room 
and sat down. A sense of loneliness came over 


Behhid Plastered Walls. 


79 


him that was strange. He looked invjDluntarily 
for a book of his wife’s that he had been reading 
and had laid upon the stand. It was not there, 
as it usually was. He cast his eyes about the room, 
but saw it not. His wife, he remembered, some- 
times put it in one of her bureau drawers. He 
went over to the bureau and pulled out the 
drawer. It was empty ! He pulled out another. 
That also was empty! All were empty! He 
went to his wife’s closet and opened the door 
— not a garment was hanging there ! 

“ Am I dreaming?” he said. 

He went to the adjoining storeroom where the 
trunks were stored. The five big trunks that 
were his wife’s were not there. He rang the 
bell and a domestic answered the summons. 

Where is Mrs. Despard ?” he asked. 

Gone out, sir.” 

Did she leave any word for me ?” 

“ No sir.” 

“ Who took the trunks?” 

The expressman, sir.” 

‘‘ Did Mrs. Despard say at what time she 
would return?” 

“ No, sir. She only said she would not return 
to lunch.” 

That will do.” 

Norman sat down and read again the note 
from Lena. 

It is best that I should go.’* 


So 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


Go,” he said, almost staggering to his feet. 

Is this the result of those words? Was it 
reaily so serious as that — a quarrel ? A mad 
freak of jealousy that has driven both my wife 
and ward from their home ? Is it so? Have they 
both gone ? Oh, what a devil is jealousy ! I am 
bereft of wife and ward. Oh, Lena, Lena, has it 
come to this?” 

Then, as though ashamed that Lena’s name 
should be first in his thought and on his tongue, 
he stopped short. 

Surely,” he said, after a moment’s intent com- 
munion, “ Clara cannot be so rash, so unjust. 
She will return. But my first duty is to go after 
her. Leave me, and for nothing ! Impossible. 
It is only a mad freak, of which she is already 
ashamed. But I will not upbraid her, poor girl. 
She cannot help it, I suppose. But she is very 
unjust, very severe upon Lena. Poor girl, poor 
girl ! Let me think !” 

Norman Despard sat himself down to retro- 
spection. '' I must be very careful not to mis- 
judge,” he said. Better far to be misjudged than 
to misjudge.” He reviewed the whole course of 
his married life in the hour that he sat awaiting 
the time of starting of the next train for Boston, 
whither he was sure his wife had fled. Now he 
could see the reason for many unpleasant things 
his wife had said, the many questionable things 
she had done, concerning Lena, which had been 


Behind Plastered Walls, 8i 

incomprehensible. Having the most implicit 
trust in his wife it had never occurred to him 
that it was possible for her to entertain a jealous 
thought regarding him, although she had been 
very exacting. But now that she had avowed 
as much, he could see the reason of the unkind 
insinuations concerning Lena. The reference to 
her loving unwisely, if it did not insinuate that 
she loved him, to whom could it refer ? Surely 
not to Bernard Durand, the only gentleman who 
had ever visited her! The very thought 
brought the blood to his face, especially in view 
of the fact that he now knew that he did love 
Lena. Still no thought of love had ever entered 
his mind until their last leave-taking. He had not 
shown what he had not known, and no one, not 
possessed of the demon of jealousy, could possibly 
have put any such interpretation upon any act or 
speech of his. That Clara had never sounded 
the depth of his love, he had long known, but he 
had been very careful not to betray this knowl- 
edge to her, nor to any human being. Nor had 
he. Even Clara did not suspect him of that. 
But she was very exacting, and was jealous of 
every word and look that spoke praise that was 
not for her, exclusively. Even at the last, her 
effort was plainly to rid the house of Lena’s 
presence by some means, fair or foul, that she 
might the more surely monopolize her husband. 
But she had overstepped the bounds. She had 


82 


BeJiind Plasiered Walls, 


sought to induce the belief that her husband’s 
character was besmirched because of the pres- 
ence in his house of his ward, and because of his 
attentions to her, so that he would be tempted to 
send Lena away. The falseness of this was too 
palpable, and Norman, appalled that such 
thoughts could even find lodgment in his young 
wife’s mind and despising everything under- 
handed, unfair and false, had impulsively spoken 
his mind. He knew that his wife had spoken 
falsely and he had so said. 

Perhaps he should have modified his speech, 
but plainness of speech had ever been character- 
istic of him, as it is of most decided characters. 
He was ready to apologize for his abruptness, 
and would certainly do so, he thought, but he 
would not permit an aspersion upon even his 
own good name, much less upon the character of 
his ward, even from his own wife. 

Norman w^ent into Lena’s room with mind and 
heart full of the deplorable catastrophe that had 
so suddenly fallen upon his home. He was ap- 
palled by the sense of utter loneliness that 
took possession of him the moment he crossed 
the threshold. He fully understood it then, and 
was fain to acknowledge that he felt much more 
deeply the loss of his ward than of his wife. 

“ This is wrong, all wrong,” he said. It 
comes to me so suddenly, too. It must be over- 
come — nor suspected by any humaa being. It i^ 


BeJiind Plastered Walls, 


83 


wicked, an abomination in God’s sight, hateful to 
me. Fool that I was, fool that any man is who 
marries for any reason but that he loves with the 
love that is God-given. Oh, foolish parents to 
plan a marriage, foolish son to consent to it. Yet 
I honestly believed that I loved Clara. Poor girl, 
poor girl ! I know that she loves me.” 

Norman’s head fell into his hands and he be- 
came buried in thought. He had learned from 
experience of the obstinate tenacity with which 
his wife ever clung to a purpose once formed, 
and as he thought of this, his heart sank within 
him. Finally this couplet came to his mind: 

But the tender grace of a day that is dead 
Can never come back to me.’* 

He jumped from his seat with the exclama- 
tion : 

“ God forbid that it be as bad as that !” and 
hurried from the house to the railway station. 
Not without a desperate effort to prevent it, 
should this separation of his wife from him — this 
disruption of his home, continue for a day. 




Behind Plastered Walls, 


84- 


CHAPTER XII. 

“ My dear young girl, you are but a child. 
Your request is the strangest! I scarcely know 
what to do. If you would but repose a little 
more confidence in me, I might see my way clear 
to helping you. Of course I know all about 
you. We lawyers scarcely ever forget occur- 
rences, faces or names. Had your request come 
from Honora, excuse me, from Miss Lockwood, I 
should unhesitatingly grant it. But ” 

“ Oh, sir, do 1 I know — no, I do not know 
that my mother would approve, how can I ? 
But, oh, sir, I feel sure of it, and my happiness, 
my welfare, almost my life, it seems to me, de- 
pends upon your granting this request. I will be 
so faithful, so careful to do just what is right 
always. And, sir, you yourself can keep watch 
upon me. You can come there as often as you 
wish. And, sir, oh, please!” 

* “ Somehow youth and beauty do sometimes 

make fools of old men, witching, and bending 
us to complete submission. Til do it. But I 
warn you that should you attempt any nefarious 
— rbut pshaw ! how absurd. Yes, I will give 


Behind Plastered Walls, 85 

you the paper and then keep you under constant 
surveillance. How will that do ? Mind you, 
you cannot take one step that I cannot know, if 
I wish.” 

“ Nor shall I wish to. And remember, oh, 
do not forget, not one word to any living soul as 
to my whereabouts. Oh, Mr. Osman I am so 
glad I remembered you, and how fully dear 
Mother Lockwood used to trust you, how she 
honored you.” 

‘‘Mother Lockwood! How singular! Well, 
I ought to be Father Osman, then to you, for 
Honora Lockwood would have been my wife, 
had it not been for — for — ! But I will not 
mention names. My daughter, you have come 
to the right one ! Whenever )^ou want advice 
or protection, come to me ! Would that my 
“ Bachelor home ” had such a mistress at its 
head ! Now, I will write your recommendation 
— you shall dictate. Now ” 

“ Dear General,” Lena commenced — for of 
course the reader has divined the ‘ young girl’s ’ 
name. 

“ Not ‘ dear,’ ” Mr. Osman suggested, “for that 
would be — well, never mind what. Now ” 

“ General Lewis W arren : 

“Dear Sir : — In accordance with your adver- 
tisement in the News for a housekeeper, will you 
permit me to recommend to you the person^ 


86 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


Miss Lewis, who will hand to you this note? I 
know her and deem her competent, intelligent 
and amiable, and think she will ‘ fill the Bill.’ 

“ Very truly yours, 

'‘Orman Osman.” 

" Oh, thanks — many thanks ! With this docu- 
ment I must succeed.” 

" But if you fail !” 

“ If I fail ! I cannot, must not fail — for with 
failure all hope, all light, will go out! And 
then ” 

“ Then Miss Lockwood — you will return here, 
and be my housekeeper, my daughter by adop- 
tion — if — if you are an honest, virtuous girl. 
You see I must be plain with you. For your 
mother’s sake and for your own — would 
protect you ” 

“ Oh, sir, you are so kind — so good I That 
you may be satisfied as regards my character, 
I will tell you that when my mother died I be- 
came the ward of Mr. Norman Despard, and 
have lived in his family ever since. That much 
I will tell you — but no more, now. If I fail in 
what I shall strive to do, I will return to you 
with explanations and proofs of all that I have 
asserted. But meantime Lena Lockwood has 
ceased to exist !” 

" I will keep your secret, and will trust you. 
I do not know what madcap prank you have in 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


37 


contemplation. But I do know that no girl 
reared by Honora Lockwood can contemplate or 
perpetrate any evil.” 

“ My dear Mr. Osman, such words are as balm 
to a wounded spirit. You give me courage — 
you inspire me with hope. Success will attend 
me, I am sure, and I shall go from you with my 
heart filled with gratitude to God for sending me 
to you. I hope to return to you, some day, when 
you shall express approval of my every act. I 
say to you now, sir, every aspiration of my soul 
is pure. I am almost tempted to lay bare my 
heart and hopes to you. But, no, that could do 
no good — might do harm — and I must accomplish 
my one purpose without further aid. And now, 
sir, the train leaves in an hour, I must go.” 

“ I will send you or take you in my carriage 
to the depot.” 

“ On no account, Mr. Osman. No human eye 
saw my entrance to your house. No one must 
see me leave it. 1 must reach the depot alone ! 
Thank you, oh, so much.” 

So saying the young girl ” raised the hand of 
the old lawyer, many years retired to private life, 
to her lips, reverently kissed it, and left the 
house. 

The old man watched her from the projecting 
bay window, far down the street, until she was 
finally lost to view. Then he said : 

Poor, dear, Honora ! That young thing that 


88 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


she reared is very beautiful in face and form, but 
that little form can scarcely house so large and 
so beautiful a soul as hers ! She was the one 
woman in all the world to me. Yet she preferred 
Lewis Warren, and he tossed her aside for one 
every way her inferior. But nothing could wean 
her from him — not even desertion. So neither 
of us married. Yet she, more fortunate than I, 
found a daughter. Mayhap that daughter will 
also be mine. God knows ! I would trust her, 
stranger though she is, and I really believe I am 
hoping her mission will fail, that she may return 
to me.” 


Behind Plastered Walls^ 


89 


CHAPTER XII. 

Father Steelman, as God is my judge 
there is not the least basis for the unnatural ac- 
cusation that Clara has brought against me. I 
have ever been faithful and true to her. Also as 
loving and as kind as I have known how to be. 
Until the little tiff that resulted in her leaving 
her home, without so much as a hint of her in- 
tention, not one word of unkindness had ever 
been said to her. I have borne much in the way 
of innuendo, but until she said falsely that Lena’s 
and my actions had caused scandal, not one un- 
kind word ever passed my lips. That I knew to 
be absolutely false, and I said so in terms not 
gentle nor gentlemanly, I admit, and for that 
I would apologize, but I will not retract the 
characterization, for it was true, just and merited. 
Will Clara not see me for even a few minutes? 
I know that this thing can be explained.” 

‘‘She refuses positively to see you, Norman, 
unless you first declare your entire faith in her 
veracity.” 

“Yet you say she will not say who spoke of 
any scandal.” 


90 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


She will not.” 

‘‘Believing as I fully do, Father, that from 
Clara’s insane jealousy she has been led to make 
this false statement, and knowing that it has no 
basis, whatever, I shall not stultify myself, nor 
belie my manhood by speaking a lie, not even to 
win back a wife. I am willing to do anything, 
everything that is honorable, to induce Clara’s 
return to my home. Beyond that I shall never 
go. No word of scandal has ever been breathed 
against me or my ward. None ever will be, 
unless Clara herself shall start it. Lena, because 
of Clara’s unkindness, has also left her home, 
gone out into the world, I know not where, leav- 
ing only this little missive in explanation.” 

Norman handed Lena’s note to his father-in- 
law, in whose house this conversation had taken 
place. 

“ Please say to Clara I shall be ready to see 
her, to welcome her back home, any time within 
three months. If by that time I shall neither see 
nor hear from her, I shall take it for granted that 
her decision to live apart from me is irrevocable, 
and shall rent the house. Meantime, I wish to 
make arrangements for meeting her expenses.” 

“Pardon me, Norman, Clara positively refuses 
all assistance from you. Indeed she does not 
need it. She has just inherited a large fortune 
from her maternal grandmother, for whom she 


Behmd Plastered Walls, 


91 


was named, and does not need assistance. Be- 
sides, she declines to be a * burden ’ to you.’* 

“ That does not vitiate my obligation. And I 
hold myself ready to respond to any reasonable 
demands that she may make upon me at any 
time. I am her husband, and shall at all times 
be ready to fulfill a husband’s duties. I cannot 
help thinking that Clara will regret her rash act 
at some time, and be willing to return to me. I 
most sincerely hope so, for I shall be miserable 
enough, as she, I cannot but think, will also be.” 

“ I certainly regret the occurrence, Norman, 
I cannot at all understand it. Unless there is 
something back of all this, that you are both 
keeping from me, it seems childish — the alleged 
cause wholly insufficient to bring about such a 
state of affairs. Clara has been hysterical, and 
is still in bed and under the Doctor’s care, 
though she forbade my telling you this.” 

“ I am glad you have, for it seemed so entirely 
heartless. I am glad that she has some feeling, 
poor girl. It is a good augury. Unless you for- 
bid, I shall come again.” 

No, I prefer not. But in case Clara shows 
any sign of relenting, I will advise you. It will 
be worse than useless to oppose her — at least, 
while she is in her present state. And now, 
Norman, I must ask you to retire, for I have a 
meeting of directors which I must attend.” 


92 


Behind Plastered IValls, 


Norman took the extended hand, and with 
much feeling said : 

‘‘ Father Steelman, I hope you will believe me 
as worthy of your regard now, as I ever was. 
It is so. At least,” he added, remembering the 
new feeling that had come to him when bidding 
good-bye to Lena, but a few hours before, 1 
have done no act that I would hesitate to make 
known or to have you scrutinize.” 

I hope so, Norman. Still, I must say to you 
that it seems incredible that Clara could have 
left her home without any cause, other than that 
you both assign. I know that jealousy is devil- 
ish in its origin and effect, once it finds a lodg- 
ment in the human heart.” 

“ I have given no cause for jealousy on Clara's 
part — none whatever.” 

must, I do believe you, Norman. Nay, 
more, I appreciate your position, for I, too, 
alas, have experienced something akin to what 
you are passing through. Clara’s jealousy, I do 
believe, is a form of insanity, inherited from her 
mother. For, although a remarkably fine and 
noble woman, on this one subject 1 firmly be- 
lieve my own wife insane ! But instead of leav- 
ing me, she will never let me go out of her sight, 
hardly. While sympathizing with Clara, she 
upbraids her for leaving you with Lena — not 
knowing, of course, that Lena has likewise left 


Behind Plastered Walls, 93 

your house. But Clara says that as you prefer 
Lena, you are welcome to her.” 

“Welcome to her! Welcome to her I Did 
Clara say that ?” 

“Those are her very words.” 

“Then she is either insane, as you suggest, or 
the depth of her love for me^ despite everything^ is not 
after all fathomless P' 

“What do you mean, Norman?” 

“ Nothing, Father. I am keeping you ! Good- 
rnorning !” 

Norman strode along absorbed in his own 
thoughts. Finally he said aloud, “Welcome to 
her, am I ?” Then after a few moments he said, 
“ What devil tempted me to this unusual tran- 
quillity in the very midst of turmoil, confusion 
and uncertainty ?” 


94 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


CHAPTER XIV. 

In the capacious library of Elmwood Hall the 
master, General Lewis Warren, sat in the gloam- 
ing, when the great gong in the main hall sounded, 
and directly a servant announced a lady visitor, 
and handed his master a card on which was 
written a name, which the General could not 
decipher, but he bade the servant show the lady 
in. A moment after the “ lady ” entered. 

Be seated. Madam,” the General said, himself 
rising and motioning her to a chair. “ It is get- 
ting so late, or the room is so darkened, that I 
cannot make out your name. Madam !” 

Lewis,” she said. Regena Lewis, sir. I 
have come in answer to your advertisement, 
and with a recommendation from Mr. Osman, 
sir, your lawyer. Here it is, sir !” 

She arose, crossed the room and handed the 
General a letter. 

“Thank you ! I presume it is all right, but I 
will read it later. You are an old acquaintance, 
I suppose, of Osman’s ?” 

“ I have known of him many years — almost all 
my life, sir.” 

“ And your life dates back — how far ?” 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


95 


Not more than forty years, sir— but long 
enough, I trust, to have prepared me for the 
position you wish filled/’ 

“ And you are a widow, I suppose ?” the Gen- 
eral said. 

“ No, sir, having never been married, I can 
scarcely claim that honor.” 

“You are entirely competent and trustworthy, 
I suppose !” 

“The recommendation in your hand, from 
your counsel, will, I presume, remove any doubt 
you may entertain as to that, sir.’’ 

“ Smart and bright,” the General thought, 
then said aloud, “ Well, Ma’am, or rather Miss, 
taking for granted that this paper will prove 
satisfying — it only remains to fix upon the com- 
pensation. What are your terms?” 

The abruptness of the question seemed to 
confuse the applicant, for she hesitated so long 
that the General looked up and said: 

“ You expect to be paid, do you not ?” ; 

This combined affirmance and inquiry put the 
woman more at her ease, for she smiled and rer 
plied : 

“ Certainly, sir. But what are you in the habit 
of paying ?” 

“ I haven’t said I was in the habit of paying 
any sum, have I? But I may as well say at 
once that I will «^7/pay more than twenty dollars 
per month, and I shall pay that not one day 


96 


BeJmici Plastered W %lls. 


longer than I am perfectly satisfied ! Will that 
be satisfactory ?” 

“ Perfectly, sir — especially the last clause. I 
would not wish to remain a day longer than 1 
could render entire satisfaction, nor would I 
agree to stay a day longer than I find it agree- 
able. Servants do not always take kindly to 
those who are put over them, and they may 
render a prolonged stay disagreeable, impossible.” 

^‘/am master here. Miss, and servants are not 
permitted to interfere. Besides, we have but 
two female servants — an old colored woman, 
who has grown old in the service of this family, 
and her daughter. There will be no trouble on 
that score ! The house is in need of a female 
head—and no dictation or interference with that 
head, on the part of servants, will be tolerated 
for a moment by me. So, if that is all, we will 
consider the matter concluded. One thing I 
would stipulate, I am alone and lonely, and so 
I shall want you to always preside at table. And 
now you may be shown to your own apartments, 
for I suppose you came prepared to stay. We 
have only plain suppers — at sevens 

The General touched the bell and a young 
negress entered, bearing a lamp. 

Juno,” said the General, this is Miss Lewis, 
my housekeeper, your new mistress. You will 
show her to the Blue Room, and henceforth take 
your orders from her,” 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


97 


** This way, Miss," Juno said, courtesying. She 
passed through another room, where a smaller 
lamp was secured, thence through the long hall 
up the main stairs, and along the upper hall. 

‘‘ Dis am de room. Miss," Juno said, ‘‘ and you 
will find it berry comfor’bel." 

She held the lamp and the new housekeeper 
passed in. Juno followed and lighted the large 
lamp that sat on the stand, then made her exit. 
As she did so, the new housekeeper followed her 
to the door, shut and locked it, then sat down. 
She happened to drop into a chair opposite the 
large tilted mirror on the bureau. She started 
as she saw her own reflection, and trembled like 
an aspen. 

Oh, what an experience and what a coward ! 
Only two female servants and one of them a very 
old person ! Oh, if she should but prove to be 
^Hannah!’ But she would be a hundred years 
old ! That cannot be. But if it only could !" 

Laying aside shawl and bonnet, she took the 
lamp and walked to the bureau. Holding the 
lamp near her face and her face near the glass, 
she closely scrutinized herself. She saw many 
wrinkles in the face before her, too many for a 
woman “ not over forty," a dark skin, with some 
pink color in the cheeks, hair dark and slightly 
streaked with grey, set off with a fanciful little 
head-piece, which she had taken from the satchel 
that she had brought, and placed upon her head. 


98 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


The apartment was capacious, handsomely 
furnished, with ample closet-room, as she found 
upon a closer examination, handsome lace cur- 
tains at the three windows, lined with blue satin, 
from which and the little blue that was in the 
other furnishings, the room took its name, “The 
Blue Room.” 

“ It really must have been furnished for me,” 
Miss Lewis said, as she completed her inspec- 
tion. She put a kerchief around her shoulders, 
crossing the ends over her breast and pinning 
them, put on a pair of glasses, and glancing into 
the mirror, said : 

“ Miss Lewis, you make a very respectable- 
looking housekeeper. If your behavior corre- 
sponds with your personal appearance, you may 
not charm, but you will do! But you are too 
old to be so nervous. Perhaps you had better 
take a little valerian, as you have seen some one 
else do when a fit of nervous tantrums was com- 
ing on !” 

Miss Lewis smiled at this, and she saw a set of 
pearly teeth glistening from the mirror. 

“ I can remedy that,” she said, and she put a 
couple of little dried huckleberries in her mouth, 
which soon proved a most effectual remedy. So 
effectual that she took her handkerchief and 
rubbed most of the discoloration off. “ Hot 
water, a little dentifrice and a stiff brush will 
take the rest off, when necessary,” she said. 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


99 

Just then the bell sounded and Juno knocked 
at the door to announce supper. 

Before opening the door "Miss Lewis raised 
her eyes and said, reverentially : 

“ If there be any wrong in what I am doing, 
oh, my Heavenly Father, make it clear to me, 
and bring all to naught.’' 

As Miss Lewis appeared in the dining room, 
following Juno, General Warren was already 
standing at the head of the table. Motioning 
her to the opposite side, he said : 

It is three minutes a/Ur seven. Miss Lewis. 
The regular supper hour is seven. Please re- 
member — punctuality is indispensable. 

Instead of being abashed at this reprimand. 
Miss Lewis smiled and said very pleasantly : 

I intended to be very punctual, sir, but I am 
without a watch, and the clock in my room does 
not agree with this one,” glancing at the beauti- 
ful bronze time-piece on the mantle. “ It is just 
Striking the hour now.” 

Punctuality is always a necessity in this 
house. Miss Lewis. I am glad the clock and not 
you was at fault.” 

Shall I pour your tea now, sir, or will you 
take it later ?” 

Juno, who stood at Miss Lewis’ back, gently 
pulled her sleeve. Before she could even turn 
to look at the girl, the General drew himself 
stiffly up and said : 


I GO 


Behmd Plastered Walls, 


Are we heathen, Miss Lewis ?’’ 

“ I trust not, sir,” Miss Lewis replied, smiling 
upon her interlocutor. 

“Then please remember that grace always 
comes first at all Christian tables.” 

Miss Lewis did not reply, but reverently 
bowed her head while the General said grace. 

“You will pardon me, sir,” she then said, “ I 
have not been accustomed to this very wise ob- 
servance of the custom. 1 shall remember.” 

She did — this and other things. Carefully she 
noted every whim of the General, and after this 
first meal everything proceeded as smoothly as 
though the new housekeeper had always been an 
inmate of Elmwood Hall. 

Without seeming to be endeavoring to humor 
the General she was careful to learm of him 
from him. Clashing there was none, for Miss 
Lewis would never oppose, never even argue. 
All the duties pertaining to her office she per- 
formed promptly and always well. She was 
ever on the alert, and so far as possible, every 
wish of the General was anticipated. Noticing 
that he was not a hearty eater — in fact, except 
at rare intervals, he ate sparingly, she was care- 
ful to ascertain what was most tempting to him, 
and to supply it. Her position, she soon found, 
was not an easy one. The General was gouty 
and irritable and very exacting. She must read 
to him for his eyes troubled him. She must talk 


Behind Plastered Walls, loi 

to him when reading became tiresome to him. 
Above all, she must sit with him from morning 
until night, from night until almost the small 
hours again, for the General was but a poor 
sleeper, and the breakfast hour like the supper 
was at seven, the dinner at one. 

“ No midday lunch, and no evening dinners in 
Elmwood Hall,” he had told Miss Lewis when 
she first arrived. 

This almost perpetual tete-a-tete with the Gen- 
eral was at first irksome. It was more than Miss 
Lewis had bargained for. But ere long she be- 
came habituated to it, and to her surprise, rather 
enjoyed it. Disagreeable the General certainly 
could be, also arbitrary and dictatorial, but he 
also could be agreeable. Expecting to thor- 
oughly dislike. Miss Lewis was surprised that she 
found it easy to tolerate, then to enjoy the Gen- 
eral. Sleeping very lightly at night, he was a 
sound sleeper during the day, and frequently his 
morning nap would last for hours. During this 
time Miss Lewis felt almost that she was her own 
mistress. She roamed about the place at will, 
oftentimes taking long walks through the shaded 
woodland, returning with renewed vitality, and 
freshly fortified for the confinement that was 
sure to succeed. She also wandered about the 
old Hall, even, on two occasions, ascending to the 
third story, from which glorious views of moun- 
tain and vale were to be had. And once she had 


102 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


ventured to the tower, but she had not dared to 
ascend the many steps that led to the summit. 
Once she stopped at the head of the third story 
stairs. 

Straight ahead — then to the left — the south- 
east corner,” she said. ‘‘ How foolish I am ! I 
am trembling! lam completely mystified, too 1” 

** Miss Lewis, de Ginral callin’ ov you.” 

It was Juno’s voice, and she stood at the foot 
of the stairs looking at Miss Lewis, her big eyes 
protruding further than ever from their sockets. 

“What you doin’ thar? Ginral never don’t 
want nobody but hisself up dar !” she said. 

“ And why not, Juno?” 

The face that was turned to Juno little agreed 
with the smooth voice. It “ looked white and 
scared,” Juno told her afterwards. 

“ Dunno! Only he don’t !” 

“ Well, I think some one will have something 
to do here ere long, Juno! The windows are 
covered with webs and dirt. This ill comports 
with an otherwise well-kept house. I think you 
and I will have to see to it one of these days,” 
Miss Lewis said, as she descended the stairs. 

Miss Lewis entered the library, but the General 
was asleep again, and snoring loud. 

“Juno must have been mistaken,” she said. 
“ He is sleeping soundly, and his nap is not half 
out.” 

She went to the parlor and opened the grand 


Behind Plastered Walls. 103 

piano, which she had been told to use, when the 
General learned that she could play. She had 
done so but a few times, and then had played 
some simple hymns. Now placing her foot on the 
soft pedal she ran her fingers rapidly over the 
keys. She could hardly restrain the impulse to 
play some of the fine pieces she had memorized, 
but she did so and finally settled down to a sweet 
low song in a minor key. Unconsciously, after 
running through the prelude, her voice took up 
the song, very softly. But soon she almost forgot 
herself and became less careful, though still sing- 
ing, and accompanying herself, in a subdued mur- 
mur, for she did not wholly forget the sleeper 
in the next room. The song finished, she stopped, 
arose and stepped lightly to the door leading to 
the library, and looked at the sleeping man. 

Sing on, Honora — your voice is delightfully 
pure and sweet — oh, so sweet, Honora,” Miss 
Lewis heard him say. 

“ He is dreaming,” she thought, as she walked 
in and took her accustomed seat. Presently the 
old man opened his eyes and they rested upon 
his housekeeper in bewildered surprise. 

Have you enjoyed your nap, sir ?” 

“Sleep is a wonderful thing. Miss Lewis. 
Wonderful ! But now I was in Heaven and I 
heard a — a — friend sing a song, just as she used 
to sing it to me almost half a century ago. The 
same exquisite voice, the same expression, the 


104 Behind Plastered Walls, 

same phrasing, precisely the same. It is won- 
derful ! Forty years bridged !” 

Between sleeping and waking he had heard 
sung a song that Honora Lockwood had often 
sung to him, in the years agone, when he was her 
lover, and it was but now sung by one of her 
pupils who had acquired her style, and who had 
unconsciously been thinking of her and was thus 
led to sing one of the songs taught by her. 
Knowing nothing of this, but being in that semi- 
conscious state bordering dreamland, the General 
thought he had been dreaming. Miss Lewis did 
not undeceive him. But the crimson dyed her 
face at the commendation that came to her un- 
consciously from the crusty old man, who had in 
telling his dream, so favorably criticized her 
singing ! Commendation warms — come it from 
whatever source it may. And Miss Lewis felt 
her heart warming toward this lonely old man, 
whom almost everybody either feared or hated. 
And although predisposed to hate him herself, 
she neither hated nor feared him. Nay, she felt 
that she was really becoming interested in him. 
Crusty beyond description, selfish and intolerant 
she had found him, still she was interested in 
him, and she often found herself planning for his 
greater comfort and amusement. In fact, as she 
was constrained to acknowledge to herself, she 
after awhile really began to like him, incredible 
as it seemed and unlovely as she knew him to be. 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


105 


CHAPTER XV. 

“ Miss Lewis/’ the General said to herone day 
while she was reading, “ either you are an un- 
usually good reader or that is an unusually inter- 
esting book. Which is it?” 

“ It is a very interesting book, for a novel,” she 
said. 

What author ?” 

The author is not given — but I like him !” she 
said. 

“You like him yet the author is unknown. 

* How do you know the author is a him f 

“ By intuition, I suppose. No woman is so 
robust !” 

“ Is he your ideal of an author? Or what is 
your idea of an * ideal author ’ ? ” 

“An ideal author, I should say, is one who is 
capable of investing a book with such interest, of 
inspiring such genuine enthusiasm, such an over- 
mastering enchainment of.the senses, that the 
reading of his book once commenced cannot be 
discontinued until finished.” 

“ Sentimental silliness — eh ? Well, perhaps 
you are right. There is something of that sort 
about that book or the reading of it. But put 
it up for to-day. Have you seen Hannah, this 


io6 Behind Plastered Walls, 

morning? It seems to me the old girl is looking 
very ill. I wish you would see that she has at- 
tention.” 

Then he had mounted the stairs and seen the 
old servant. There was the one spark of humanity 
left flickering in his body. She was glad. 

‘‘I will, sir. I have seen her this morning, and 
she is poorly. I shall return to her when you 
are ready for your nap.” 

“ What is my nap to you?” 

“ Nothing, sir, only I do not — that is, when 
you wish me to read I must be with you, of 
course.” 

Well, you can go to her now. Mayhap she 
needs you more than I do.” 

“ There is anothor spark.” 

Miss Lewis left the room with this thought 
uppermost in her mind. 

That is the first really unselfish thing I 
have seen on his part.” 

She went to the kitchen, gave some orders 
to Juno about dinner, then saying she was going 
to see Juno’s mother, went up the back stairs 
to the room of old Hannah, where she had 
spent many an hour, in the vain endeavor to 
unlock the old woman’s memory and induce 
her to talk of events connected with her earlier 
life. But while the most trifling events of her 
early life, her girlhood days, were remembered 
and eagerly retold, it was impossible to fix 


Behind Plastered Walts. 107 

Hannah’s mind upon scenes and incidents of later 
years. Miss Lewis this day made the same 
efforts with the same result. 

'‘Oh,” she said in despair, "a thunderbolt 
could not force an entrance to her head, and I 
shall grow old before I succeed in getting a new 
idea to penetrate her mind, if indeed she has any 
mind left. I have tried and tried to lead the 
poor old thing to talk of her ' young master,’ as 
she calls him, but cannot get her beyond his 
childhood days, of which she can recall every 
occurrence. I had hoped for so much from her, 
but, alas ! alas ! But I won’t give up, I cannot.” 

" Mammy,” she said to her, " you do remember 
your young master — Master Lewis. Do 3^ou 
not?” 

" An’ de dogs — Dash and Duke. How dey do 
hunt, dem dogs. Dey noes ’bout as much asyou 
do, Marse Lewis,” the old woman said, appar- 
ently thinking she was talking to her "young 
marse,” instead of to Miss Lewis. 

" Yes, and how he used to tease his old Han- 
nah !” Miss Lewis said, humoring the old 
woman’s whim. " Where is Marse Lewis, Han- 
nah ?” 

" Don gone to skewl dis long time ago — tu 
kollege, shu, now T 

Miss Lewis was in ecstacies. She had never 
before got the old woman beyond young Lewis’ 


io8 Behind Plastered Walls, 

boyhood. But now he was a man at college. 
How her heart throbbed ! 

** You remember, Hannah, Marse Lewis did go 
to college?” 

‘‘Tu kollege — an’ Dash an’ Duke, shu!” 

‘*Buthe came back from oollege, you know, 
and was ill — sick !” 

*‘Sick! De Ginral sick! Hush! de Ginral he 
dunno — he dunno ’bout de picaninny, hush !” 

“ God be praised !” Miss Lewis said. Then to 
Mammy, The baby, Hannah — the picaninny ! 
And the young mother, Hannah, the young 
mother and the child! you know, Hannah! You 
remember! They were married, you know — 
your young marse !” 

De ’stifficate, Marse Lewis. De ’stifficate! 
Lemme see!” Old Hannah, with the recollec- 
tion of that long ago sickness dawning in her 
mind, put her trembling hand to her head, and 
seemingly tried to recall something, but she was 
all trepidation. Sh — h !” she whispered. De 
Ginral, he come!” 

“ No, no, Hannah, it is young Marse Lewis ! 
Oh, Hannah, the certificate, the certificate !” 

“ De tin box, Marse Lewis. De garret — rite 
afore ye — head stairs — so’ east corner — hind raf- 
ter — nailed up — hid. Golly ! Ginral no find 
Marse Lewis! No own! Turn out! Poor 
chile — poor little picaninny ! Die ! all die | 
Marse Lewis !” 


Behind Plastered Walls. 109 

Hannah’s tongue ceased wagging, and Miss 
Lewis’ pen was idle, for she had written every 
word as it came from the old negress’ lips. She 
now read it over as old Hannah slept. Then 
she said : 

There is coherence amidst this incoherence, I 
am sure, if only I can unravel the web. There 
was a certificate of marriage which my father 
took with him to his father — so the paper left for 
Norman by Mother Lockwood distinctly says. 
Was it given to this nurse by my father for 
preservation ? And was it hidden by her in a 
tin box behind a rafter in the garret ! And was 
this done because General Warren repudiated 
the marriage — denied the legitimacy of the child? 
What more likely ? And this intangible certifi- 
cate is all the evidence, proof, of the marriage 
of my father and my mother ! Norman has seen 
the pastors of every church in New Haven, and 
has failed to gain a clue, though the records of 
every church have been searched ! Alas, alas ! 
But I will persevere ! What though the garret 
be a thing of the past ! There are rooms where the 
garret once was, and I will see behind every 
rafter in the southeast corner — though to do 
so, the walls come down inch by inch, foot by 
foot. That is my mission here, and it must not 
fail. If the old woman’s ravings have a basis, 
and they do tally somewhat with the story told 
to Mother Lockwood years ago, I will know it. 


I lO 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


Oh, good Lord,” she said, let the good old 
woman live to help me through with this most 
difficult task. And do Thou help us both.” 

She put the paper in the bosom of her dress 
and went to Hannah, but Hannah’s spirit had 
left its earthly tenement. Having relieved itself 
of the heavy burden of a secret long kept and 
brooded over — the lightened spirit had taken 
its flight and soared upward. The old nurse had 
gone to her young master. 

Recovering somewhat from the shock occa- 
sioned by the ghastly discovery. Miss Lewis said 
devoutly, *‘For this much, our Heavenly Father, 
do I thank Thee !” I must not lose it,” she said, 
pressing her hand upon her breast where was 
hidden the treasured mutterings of the negress. 
“For this is all I have or shall ever have to help 
me! Oh, how little — how little ! Yet it may be 
much — for it may direct me to possitive proof ! 
And then — then ! Oh, can it bring peace — hap- 
piness back to me? But 1 must not think — not 
yet, not yet! Oh my more than Mother ! Had 
I but your counsel — your protection! Alone! 
Alas, alas !” 

She sat upon the stairs a moment after she 
had left the room. 

“ Alone,” she again said, “ all alone ! What 
shall it benefit me ? May I not as well be no- 
body as the lineal descendant of General Lewis 
Warren? Alone— alone ! Oh, Norman! No, 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


1 1 1 


no,” she said, almost frightened. “Any name 
under Heaven rather than his ! Never, never, 
never must I look again into his face !” 


II2 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


CHAPTER XVL 

Miss Lewis, Miss Lewis ! The Ginral wants 
you. Whar you bin so long?” 

“ Juno. Hush, child. Your poor old mother, 
Juno ” 

“ Am she sleepin’ ? Dat’s good.” 

“ Sleeping! Yes, poor child, your old mother 
is sleeping. But, child, she will awake in the 
glory-land. Her sufferings are over.” 

“ Ded, am she ? Awful sudden, ain’t it ? Deth 
allers is sudden, I reckon.” 

The marvellous calm, unconcern, or whatever 
it was, exhibited by Juno, presented a new phase 
of character to Miss Lewis. She had expected 
hysterics from this young negress, but there was 
no evidence of any concern, even. 

“ Yes, death seems always, no matter how long 
expected, to be sudden when it comes ; we are 
never quite prepared for it.” 

“ It’s best,” Juno said. Mammy’s been a 
awful care these good many years. You don’ 
have no doubts ’bout her gwine to heben, do you ? 
Some white folks says as how niggers can’t git 


Behind Plastered Walls, 113 

The color of the skin makes no difference. 
It's only the purity of the soul." 

Tink mammy’s soul was pure, Miss Lewis? 
Some white folks say niggers ain’t got no souls, 
too." 

“ That is only prejudice, Juno. All human be- 
ings, white or colored, have souls, and all are re- 
deemed and may go to heaven." 

Shu uv dat. Miss Lewis?" 

“ Yes, Juno, I am quite sure." 

Den dis chile ain’t gwine to heben, nohow ! 
Ef dat coon, Sam Johnson, can git in, dat ain’t no 
place for dis chile, nohow !’’ 

<< Never mind, Juno. You will never have any 
trouble with Sam Johnson in heaven." 

Don’ mean to, nor with Sal Smith, nuther." 

Oh, that is the trouble," Miss Lewis said, 
smiling in spite of herself. 

But the smile was but for a moment. For 
jealousy, she remembered, could disturb the peace 
of mind, and uproot happiness in the heart of 
white people as well as of the poor negro. And 
this thought was not provocative of mirth. 

^‘What you gwine to do with mammy. Miss 
Lewis — whar you gwine to put her?" 

“ / am going to do nothing, Juno. It is for you 
and the General to say where and when she is 
to be buried." 

Don’t go fur to puttin’ it off onter me. Miss 
Lewis. I dunno nothink ’bout ded fowks. I 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


114 

couldn’t lay her out, ’tall, ’deed I couldn’t. Dis 
chile ain’t fackelized dat way, a bit. You jes’ go 
ahead. Miss Lewis, you ’n the Ginral. On’y 
don’t bury up dem rings what’s on her fingers. 
She gin ’em to me.” 

“ Hush, Juno. This is not the time to speak of 
such things— nor the place.” 

Whar shall we go, den, up in her room ? She 
won’t care.” 

“ No, Juno, she will not care. But it is irrev- 
erent to speak or even think of such things, 
now.” 

“ Oh, am it ? Den wait ’till to-morrow. But 
mind, I don’t want dem rings buried up, whar 
they won’t do nobody no good.” 

Evidently Hannah’s jewelry, her two brass 
rings, worn from her girlhood, were coveted — 
perhaps as precious mementos — by her offspring. 
Who knows? 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


115 


CHAPTER XVII. 

Straight ahead— then to the left— the south- 
east corner !” 

Miss Lewis stood at the head of the second 
flight of stairs, and was therefore on the floor 
where years ago had been the garret of Elm- 
wood Hall. Now, however, there was no ap- 
pearance of a garret — but instead, handsome, 
large rooms, handsomely furnished. But the 
accumulated dust of years was upon everything. 
The carpets were grey with thick dust, and every 
step left a footprint. Tracks there were, and 
these led directly from the stairs across the wide 
hall to a room the door of which wasclosed. Was 
it locked ? Like a thief Miss Lewis felt, as that 
query arose in her mind. Plainly it was no con- 
cern of hers whether the door was locked or 
not — for the room lay in a direction directly 
opposite to that with which she had any 
concern. 

“ Straight ahead to the left — the southeast 
corner !” 

The footsteps all crossed the hall and led 
directly opposite. 


ii6 Behind Plastered Walls, 

Miss Lewis took a few steps “ straightahead,’* 
then she turned toward the left,” then she 
stopped. 

Surely,” she said, “unless I have entirely 
lost my bearings, this is not the “southeast cor- 
ner of this floor. It seems to me the southwest. 
Let me see !” 

As she turned to retrace her steps, holding her 
long wrapper in her hands to keep it from 
the dusty floor, her astonished gaze fell upon 
General Warren, who was emerging from the 
one room on that floor which gave evidence of 
having been entered within the last decade, all 
oblivious of the presence of any human being. 
A moment she paused, her face flushed, her 
breath came in gasps ; but she quickly recovered 
herself, and braced herself for the ordeal that 
she felt was at hand. Then the General’s eyes 
fell upon her, and his face was crimsoned. 

“Zounds!” he thundered. “ What are you do- 
ing here ?” 

“ Trying to avoid the accumulated nastiness 
of some former incompetent in the form of a 
housekeeper,” Miss Lewis calmly replied, hold- 
ing still higher her skirts, and disclosing a 
tiny pair of feet encased in slippers. General 
Warren saw them and was mollified. His own feet 
were very small, tiny for a man of his size, and 
he was very proud of them. Small feet excited 
his admiration ! He stood five feet ten and wore, 


Behind Plastered Walls, 117 

he was proud to say, a “ No. 5 shoe.’’ Miss 
Lewis’ feet were loosely encased in a No. 13 
child’s size slipper. 

Well,” the General growled, what do you 
propose to do about it?” 

Spend at least two or three weeks in remov- 
ing the accumulations of years. I shall have 
these carpets taken up at once, and the entire 
floor renovated. 1 could not live in such a con- 
dition, now that I know of it !” 

When did you first make the discovery that 
Glenwood Hall was untenantable?” 

“ But a moment since, it occurred to me 
that I had never investigated this floor, so, act- 
ing upon the impulse, I started on a tour of ex- 
ploration, little dreaming that I should be com- 
pelled to wade through dust, or meet with you 
in a like predicament! My dear sir, I am 
ashamed that I have been with you a whole 
month, and that any part of Elmwood Hall is 
still in this condition I But I will speedily 
make amends. If these doors are locked, please 
unlock them, or give me the keys.” 

‘‘Better let them atone! Those little white 
hands of yours were not designed for such 
work !” 

“ Never mind the hands, sir, they can ac- 
complish just as much, I assure you, as though 
they were twice the size. Indeed your own are 
scarcely larger ! But I do not intend to do the 


1 1 8 Behind Plastered Walls. 

work myself, only to superintend it. Though it 
must be done and done quickly ! But pardon 
me, let me assist. Put your hand on my shoulder, 
so !” 

Thus they descended the two flights, she 
holding high her dusty skirts, he with one little 
soft hand on her shoulder, the other on the 
rail. 

“ One moment,” Miss Lewis said, as leaving 
the General standing by the newel in the 
lower hall, she passed quickly through the 
hall, out on the porch, and shook a cloud of dust 
from the bottom of her skirts. 

Isn’t that dreadful ?” she asked, as the dust 
blew away. “ I would not have believed it.” 

Then she came back, taking a cane from the 
receptacle as she passed, and handing it to the 
General. 

“ Thank you, thoughtful little puss.” 

Thus familiar had the doughty General and 
his housekeeper become during the month they 
had passed beneath the same roof. But not al- 
ways so bland and patient had the master of 
Elmwood Hall been. Several times, indeed, had 
he been on the point of discharging his new 
housekeeper, but she always anticipated him by 
declaring that she was both ready and willing 
to go at a moment’s warning. For these two 
natures, so dissimilar, were strongly alike in 
some things. Both were alike impulsive and 


Behind Plastered Walls, 119 

headstrong, independent and aggressive, yet 
in some respects as widely apart as the antipodes. 
He, controlled by his own will, she actuated by an 
overmastering impulse to be first and last in 
the right, to conform all that she said and did to 
the will of her Heavenly Father, whose guiding 
hand she tried firmly to hold ; yet strong as was 
her nature, she loved to lean upon another. 
Father and mother she had none. Her more 
than mother was gone from her. She was 
friendless almost. Whenever this thought came 
to her she also thought of Norman Despard, 
but with a shudder. Then of her new friend, 
old Mr. Osman, so good, so kind; then of her 
employer, the master of Elmwood Hall, old, 
soured, grim, fault-finding, forbidding ! Yet, she 
thought charitably, “ He is so alone and so mis- 
erable,” she would often say, in excuse for his 
idiosyncracies. 

** I came here expecting to hate him,” Miss 
Lewis said to herself, one day. “ But I do not 
hate him, and I am so glad ! It is dreadful to 
hate ! I cannot hate — not even Clara ! Not 
though I know she hates me. Oh, Clara, why 
must she hate me ? And I so pity her ! Pity 
her! pity her! Oh, why do I not envy her? 
She lives in the glorious light of a requited love, 
the one woman in all this fair earth to be envied. 
To be loved as she is loved ! Ah, it must be 
Heaven on earth ! Yet 1 sometimes fancied, 


120 


BeJiind Plastered I Vails, 


nay, I know, that she did not appreciate the 
blessedness that was hers. Sometimes when our 
cup of happiness is full to overflowing we do not 
quaff, but let it overflow, and others are re- 
freshed by the surplus. Even as the tired dog 
slakes his thirst, when in the hunt, from the water 
spilled from his master’s flagon, so had it been 
in the Despard household. Clara, vain and self- 
ish in all her personality, could not bear to see 
her husband treat one whose personal charms 
surpassed even her own marvellous beauty, with 
common civility. Moreover, her egotism and 
vanity were so monumental that her own beauty 
filled her own eyes full, and she was angered that 
it did not also fill her husband’s, and that he 
should find anything to admire in another. 
When love is regnant in the heart, demands sel- 
dom multiply and exactions are usually unknown, 
but when selfishness is the predominent factor, 
nothing satisfies and not even love itself is secure. 
Thought usually precedes action, and delibera- 
tion almost certainly leads to wise action. But 
not deliberation, scarcely a moment’s thought, 
had preceded Clara’s foolish, precipitate flight 
from her home, after her falsehood had been ex- 
posed in the presence of the hated ward of her 
husband, whom she had sought to drive from her 
presence and her home. But repentance seldom 
came to Clara Despard, and it had not now. 

So entirely the gentleman was Norman Des- 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


I2I 


pard that he could afford always to be himself ; 
hence there had been no subterfuges. There 
was nothing in his life to conceal, and so he had 
practised no concealment. Though now shorn 
by his Delilah he was not left powerless. She 
had not discovered the true sources of his 
strength, which were truth and virtue, and 
these were left untapped. After the first shock 
occasioned by Clara’s desertion of him, Norman 
Despard knew that the sigh that escaped him 
was almost a song ! For he knew then that in his 
very soul Lena Lockwood, and not his wife, was 
enshrined, its best, first love. But the knowledge 
brought no comfort ; it appalled him. 

“Afflictions, such as have come upon you, my 
boy,” Norman’s father-in-law had said to him, 
“ are apt to harden the nature, but they do some- 
times expand the sympathies. Let it be so in 
your case. Bear with Clara, and we will hope 
for a return of reason, which will lead to a recon- 
ciliation. It must come!” 

And Norman had said : 

“ Amen I” It was honestly said, yet somehow 
it brought consciousness of guilt, for in his soul 
he could never again mate with the wife who had 
deserted him, and he knew it. 


122 


Behind Plastered Walls* 


CHAPTER XVIII. 

Miss Lewis I want you to sing !” 

She stood a little apart from the General, 
broom and dustpan in hand. 

At this hour in the morning, and my work 
not yet commenced?” A smile irradiated her 
face, and it was pleasant despite the wrinkles and 
the glasses, even when crowned by the ugly 
dust-cap which always protected the gray-be- 
sprinkled head when the dust flew. 

“ Bother the work !” the General said, petu- 
lantly. “Let the servants do the work ? If there 
are not enough, procure more ! I want you to 
devote yourself to me ! I am exacting, I know. 
Do you find me too much so ?” 

“ For what are youth and health and elas- 
ticity given us, if not that we may tend upon the 
aged and infirm !” Miss Lewis spoke tenderly. 

“ Devilish nonsense !” I am neither old nor in- 
firm ! And you can scarcely claim to be youth- 
ful! You are here for the money you earn ! Let 
there be no nonsensical sentiment ! I have the 
money that you want. That brings you here ! 
If I prefer that you sing rather than sweep 
and dust, what is that to you ? You can do my 


Behmd Plastered Walls, 123 

bidding, or you can go! Make your choice 
and make it quickly.” 

Miss Lewis sat down where she had stood. 
She smiled into the old man’s face a moment. 
Then she laughed outright. 

What a bundle of contradictions you are,” 
she said. “ One moment almost an ogre, the 
next conciliatory, tender as a father.” 

“ Ugh! Tender, am I ? So much the worse. 
Perhaps you think me in my dotage, that you 
may do with me as you choose — eh ?” 

No such thought can come to me. At least, 
not while you can scold and say such desperately 
severe things as you sometimes do, when you 

almost make me afraid of you ” 

“ Afraid of me — you?” 

Well, not quite. Though you do try to 
frighten me.” 

“Well, I will soon frighten you into singing, 
unless you obey ” 

“I obey with much pleasure, sir. Could I 
refuse a request so graciously tendered ?” she 
asked archly, forgetful of her “forty years.” 

Miss Lewis turned to the piano and looked 
over her music, asking. Shall it be this or this? 
Finally she said : 

“ Here is one I have never sung to you. 
‘ There is a green hill far away.’ Shall I sing 
it?” 


124 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


Devil take the ‘ green hills far away ' and you, 
too,” the General thundered. 

“Suppose,” Miss Lewis said, paying not the 
least attention to this outburst, “that there is 
some one resting quietly in the shade of a beau- 
tiful tree, there, awaiting your coming?” 

“Eh?” 

“ I think, sir, the joy of awaiting the coming of 
our friends will be vouchsafed us in the better 
land. Do not you? I confess that that to me 
is one of the inducements so to live that I may 
inherit a home that is prepared for me there. 
Oh, sir, to inherit a home, a name even here, 
what joy it must be.” 

“You think so? Well, we all have a name, 
and that’s enough.” 

“ No, sir, it is not enough, unless it is the name 
to which we are entitled, the name of our 
fathers.” 

“ And does not everybody have his or her 
father’s name ?” 

'‘Not all, sir. To some that blessed privilege 
is denied, and from no fault of their own.” 

“ Are you going to sing ?” 

A scowl was on the General’s face as Lena 
commenced the beautiful song, “ There is a green 
hill far away.” But he did not interrupt the 
singing. At its conclusion, he asked ; 

“ Who taught you that song ?’' 


Behind Plastered Walls, 125 

“ My foster-mother, sir. Oh, that you could 
have heard her sing it!” 

“ Well, you need not sing it again.” 

“ How complimentary you are ! But I forgive 
you. Well, now listen to your favorite.” 

She sang to him in tones sweet as the cooing 
of a dove the song taught her by her mother 
that first awakened General Warren’s interest 
in her singing, which had deepened with its 
every repetition since ; oftentimes she had de- 
tected a suspicious glistening in his eyes and a 
tremulousness in the voice that thanked her 
which were more touching even than the tender 
words in which his thanks for that particular 
song were ever couched. 

“ Thank you, Miss Lewis, thank you ! I never 
heard a sweeter voice than yours. Miss Lewis, and 
never knew more than one who knew as well how 
to sing as you do, and that was many years ago. 
And your playing is really fine. With such ac- 
complishments how did you come to be merely 
a housekeeper ?” 

Merely, sir ? I think housekeeping the very 
highest position, under certain circumstances, 
that a woman can fill,” Miss Lewis said. But 
her crimson-dyed face was not unobserved by 
the General, and he delighted most in prod- 
ding. 

‘‘ Of course,” he said, “ we understand. But 
hiring yourself out fora housekeeper isn’t quite 


126 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


what a person of your accomplishments would 
naturally choose, one would think !” 

Circumstances alter cases, you know, sir, 
and sometimes one will perhaps do in an emer- 
gency what one might not choose !” 

** Emergency ! What?” 

“Well, perhaps being called upon unexpect- 
edly to provide for one’s self, would be an emer- 
gency, would it not ?” 

“ Was that your case?” 

“ Something like it, sir.” 

“ Tell me of it !” 

“ I cannot, sir.” 

“ Will not, you mean ! All right, I have no 
right !” 

“You have the right, sir,” Miss Lewis said, 
eagerly. The next minute she would have 
given anything to recall the words. 

The General looked at her a moment, noted 
her confusion, then smiled a self-complacent, 
satisfied smile. Was it possible that he 
thought he was making a conquest? 

“Well,” he finally said, “if I have the right, 
suppose I exercise it. But first tell me whence 
the right comes.” 

“The right that comes with age, with kindness 
as a coadjutor, to counsel with the young and the 
inexperienced, sir, you may surely claim.” 

“The young and the inexperienced ! ha, ha ! 
That is the first time in my experience that man 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


127 


or woman arrived at the age of forty ever con- 
fessed to inexperience ! Women never gro w 
We could not expect it of an un wedded damsel, 
of course. But a women of forty to acknowledge 
herself inexperienced! Why, Miss Lewis, you 
should be on exhibition as a natural curiosity ! 
But the emergency which fixed your destiny and 
made you my housekeeper — you havn’t told me 
of it!’’ 

“ And shall not ! At least not now, for you 
are cynical, and in your present mood would be 
apt to misinterpret everything. But here comes 
your carriage. Will you be long away, sir ?” 

Do the hours seem longer when I am 
away ?” 

“ Naturally they pass more rapidly when one 
has company !” 

“ Then why not go with me?’' 

“ You have never before asked me, for one 
thing, sir. But I could not go to-day, thank 
you.” 

“ Well, I am going to Coscob, and it’s a long, 
disagreeable drive. I shall not be home before 
lunch, possibly not until near night, for 1 have 
much to do. But don’t fear missing your after- 
noon scolding, for you’ll get it.” 

Oh, I have come to rather enjoy that! You 
always speak your mind so freely at such times. 
As you are going, allow me.” 

She got his slippers off and his shoes on. 


128 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


Then his wrapper off and his coat on. Then his 
hat and cane. 

Thank you, Miss Lewis. I shall soon find 
you necessary to my comfort if you continue in 
so helpful a mood. Do you know, I begin to 
like you ?” 

“ Like begets like ! so be careful,” Miss Lewis 
said. Housekeeping may not al ways be onerous, 
you see. Nay, it is often most pleasurable.” 

“ And you find it so ?” 

“ Undoubtedly, or I should quit it.” 

The General smiled. Then the smile broad- 
ened into a grin, almost, and he laughed a self- 
satisfied laugh, such as Miss Lewis had never 
before heard. Was he becoming interested in 
some human being after all? 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


129 


CHAPTER XIX. 

“ How utterly incomprehensible, yet how 
vastly different, are women, and all enigmat- 
ical ! Six months have elapsed since Clara 
left me, with no sufficient cause, six months 
since the disappearance of Lena, and all my 
efforts to secure the return of the one, to dis- 
cover the whereabouts of the other, have failed 
utterly ! That some unusually unkind treat- 
ment by Clara was the underlying motive for 
Lena’s going, there can be no doubt. The in- 
explicable refusal of Lena to accept the very 
birthday gift which would enable her to gain 
that “ independence ” for which she constantly 
longed, indicates almost certainly the saying, 
in connection with that gift, of something more 
than usually disagreeable to Lena. But what 
could Clara say that would cause such precipi- 
tate flight ? Ah ! Strange that this thought has 
not come to me before ! Suppose that Clara had 
said to a girl so sensitively organized as Lena is, 
the very words that Clara said to me ! Could 
she longer dwell beneath the same roof with 
us? Plainly not ! But why deny to me knowl- 
edge of her whereabouts or her mode of living? 


130 Behind Plastered Walls, 

Evidently there is something underlying this, 
something that has not come to the surface ! 
Oh, Clara, you, in your blind jealousy and rage, 
have wrecked three lives? For your own can 
never be happy, I know.” 

“ Hey-dey, young man ! Why so buried in 
reverie as not to hear the heavy footsteps of an ^ 
old man, Norman ?” 

Pardon me, Mr. Osman.” 

“No apology. Your young man was going 
to announce me, but he assured me you were 
disengaged, so, as I wanted to stretch my old 
frame on your lounge I made bold to enter your 
office unannounced. Do I trespass?” the old 
lawyer asked, stretching himself on the lounge. 

“ Trespass, sir ^ you trespass here? I only wish 
I could see you every day instead of once or 
twice a year.” 

“Well, boy, I am too old to^ come to town 
nowadays, and truth to tell find home the most 
comfortable place, though this lounge does rest 
me amazingly. But, my boy, 1 was amazed to 
hear yesterday that you and your beautiful 
young wife had a tiff or something, and that you 
are not living together ! Can this be true ?” 

“ It is true, Mr. Osman. Clara returned to 
her father’s home six months ago.” 

“ Clara returned home ! That looks bad for 
you, boy. I hope you have done nothing wrong, 


Behind Plastered T Vails. 


131 

committed no youthful follies to be repented 
of later.” 

“ I have done no wrong — no wrong act.” 

“ No wrong act. Did you quarrel with her? 
But, surely, that could not be cause sufficient to 
drive a loving wife from a young, loving hus- 
band to the paternal roof. Why did she leave 
you, Norman ?” 

“ My dear sir, pardon me, but on this sub- 
ject I have never said a word save to Clara's 
father and mine.” 

*‘So much the better, boy! But since I 
brought you through your law studies, and am 
still sort of sponsor for you — well, can’t I invite 
your confidence ?” 

“Mr. Osman, my dear friend, I am almost 
tempted to tell you — yet there is little to tell ! 
Still — no, I won’t tell, for the telling will reflect 
upon Clara, and that I cannot do 1” 

“ Reflect upon Clara I Surely there cannot be 
anything wrong there !” 

“No, no — not that Clara, I do believe, re- 
mains steadfast in her loyalty to me. Oh, you 
might as well know.” 

And so Norman told his old friend everything. 

“ And so by the keeping of a young woman in 
your home against the wishes of your wife, you 
drove your wife away, eh?” 

“ It was not against any expressed wish of my 
wife, sir.. But I now see I ought not to have done 


132 


Behmd Plastered Walls, 


as I did. I have so acknowledged to Clara over and 
over again, by letter and through her father, for 
she refuses to see me, but all to no purpose ; she 
will not return, she says, under any circum- 
stances.” 

But Lena, where is she ?” 

God knows, sir. She disappeared as mys- 
teriously as did Clara, leaving only a scrap say- 
ing it was best for her to go. Poor girl, she 
must have seen Clara’s jealousy and left on that 
account. It is strange, but stranger still that 
her whereabouts is so effectually concealed. I 
think she must have gone to some city and is 
teaching music, for she is fully competent. Still 
I have visited Boston, New York, Philadelphia, 
and other cities, inquiring at all the music stores 
where teachers generally register, but have found 
no trace of her. I would give anything to find 
her.” 

“ You would ! Well, what would you do if you 
should ?” 

'' Why care for her, sir, if she would permit ; 
for she is but a simple child.” 

A simple child? Why, how old is she ?” 

‘‘ She was just eighteen the very day she left 
her home, but as simple, as unsophisticated, as 
innocent as a child.” 

“ And you are very much concerned for her ? ’ 

I am so concerned, sir, that I would give any- 
thing to know that she is alive and well. For 


Behmd Plastered Walls, 133 

the rest I can trust Lena, for no harm can come 
to such as she.” 

“ Suppose I can give you that assurance!” 

‘‘ You ! Oh, Mr Osman, if you know anything 
as to the whereabouts of Lena ! But how can 
you ? Yet what can you mean ? You do know,” 
Norman said, seeing the merry twinkle in his 
old friend’s eyes. 

“ Well, boy, I do knovir ! This much I will tell 
you — not one word more, until Lena herself 
shall bid me. Lena is alive and as well as ever — 
more, she is honestly earning her own liv- 
ing.” 

“ Thank God ! But why does she not com- 
municate with me ? lam her guardian !” 

I would not tell you, did I know. She evi- 
dently has her reasons for reticence, and you 
must respect them, as I do.” 

“How long have you known of this, Mr. Os- 
man? I mean, of Lena’s connection with my 
troubles ?” 

“ Since you yourself told me ! I learned of your 
troubles with your wife, and came at the first 
opportuity to see you — to help you, if possible, 
but I see that I cannot.” 

“ No, thank you. My troubles are of such a 
nature and have gone to such a length that I 
very much fear nothing can be done. I must 
bear them as best I can, sir. But one thing 
you may do, give me the promise that as soon 


134 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


as you can see Lena and get her consent you 
will let me know when and where I can see 
her!” 

^‘That I can promise, surely. But, Norman, do 
not count upon seeing her soon, for I verily 
believe that she does not wish any one — not 
even you — to know her whereabouts, else she 
would have let you know herself !” 

I can conceive of no reason for any such 
secresy !” 

“ Still there may be reasons which to her are 
good and sufficient, which she may not wish to 
communicate to you, and for this very reason 
avoids you ! Women are strange, inconsistent 
creatures, oftentimes doing things without ap- 
parent reason or contrary to reason. But they 
are all soft, and can be reached through their 
affections, always !” Once incur a woman’s ill- 
will, however, through ill-treatment or otherwise, 
and she decides at once upon her course, and her 
judgment becomes a sort of Areopagus, from 
which there is no appeal. If Lena’s going from 
your home was influenced by your wife, as you 
believe, it is unlikely that she will ever return.” 

I do not for a moment expect that — nor wish 
it. But I am her guardian, and must perform a 
guardian’s duty, if possible. Say to Lena that I 
wish to see her, and will see her at any place she 
may name.” 

I will, of course, tell her what you say, 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


135 


though it may be months before I shall see her 
or hear from her. Still 1 will convey to her your 
message, and to you her answer, if I receive 
any. But, my dear boy, do not give up trying to 
restore your home.” 

Truth to tell, my friend,” Norman said, with 
a tremulousness in his voice, I do not know that 
I now wish it restored.” Then, almost for the 
first time in his life, he wept. 

“ Norman, Norman, that will never do !” 

The old man was touched at this evidence of 
deep feeling, more by the implied resignation to 
the separation, and recalling the couplet : 

“ Friendship hath power to soothe affliction 
In its darkest hour,” 

he WjOund his arms about his friend, but there was 
no responsiveness. Norman’s heart was becom- 
ing hardened towards the wife that had turned 
from him. 

Remember your marriage-day, Norman,” 
the older man said, “and the beautiful bride.” 

“ Beautiful without — but within what?” he said, 
in much bitterness. “ But, my friend, this is un- 
manly, and I am ashamed of it. Still, the thought 
comes to me a hundred times a day, that had my 
wife really loved me, she could not have so unfeel- 
ingly, causelessly, abandoned me. No, sir, I do not 
believe it ! else she could not be going about in 


136 Behind Plastered Walls. 

gay company the merriest of the merry, while I 
am suffering because of her doings.” 

‘‘ Perhaps she does not know how deeply you 
are attached to her, Norman.” 

“Hold, my friend. You shall not remain 
longer deceived. When I married Clara I be- 
lieved that she truly loved me, and that I loved 
her, but I think we both have learned better. 
Until the very hour that she left, no couple were 
closer, more apparently devoted to each other 
than we. But on her abrupt departure, without 
reason or cause, the conclusion that there had 
been no real love between us forced itself into 
my mind, and it has come to stay. I no longer 
mourn the loss of my wife, and honestly do not 
care to see her. Yet despite this I shall hold my- 
self in readiness to reunite with her at any time 
that she may choose voluntarily to return to me. 
I shall never again ask her, nor seek to induce 
her to return to me. And she will never do so, 
I feel assured. Every hour we are drifting 
further apart, and I am satisfied that it is so. 
Mortified beyond the telling I have been — still 
am. Ashamed for Clara’s sake as well as my 
own— nay, far more — but pining for her — no ! 
Oh, my friend, it comes to me more and more, 
that only a heart that is craven could cast aside 
a husband who had gratified every wish and had 
never spoken one harsh word, like a broken, 
worthless vessel or a worn-out garment, from no 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


137 


cause whatever. Regret, keen regret, I feel for 
the course Clara has seen fit, from pique and 
heartlessness, to pursue, but mourn for her^ I do 
not ! Now, my friend, you have my confession. 
You can pass judgment.” 

My dear bo}^ I am pained, shocked, at your 
recital. Also I am amazed ! But it is not for 
me to pass judgment. If your own conscience 
holds you guiltless, it is not for others to judge ! 
But I am sorry, oh, so sorry ! Better a thousand 
times no marriage, but a desolate life such as I 
have lived, than such marital infelicity as you 
have unfolded to me this day ! I feel the force, 
the truth of what you have said, and I regret it. 
But do not despond. And if, as is oftentimes 
the case, there comes a time in your life when 
you feel that you can gain comfort from holding 
converse with a sympathetic friend, even an old 
man, come freely to me. I could not be happier 
than in serving my protege ! You know I have 
not much to make me happy!” 

Norman took the soft white hand that did not 
suggest such old age,” and smiled into the face 
of the old man, whom he loved and who loved 
him. It gratified him to know that despite all the 
trouble that environed him he had power to 
make one human being “ happy !” Long ago he 
had won the old man’s love, and in those days his 
own had gone out to him, and now he realized 
that no man who loves has the right to turn from 


138 Behind Plastered Walls, 

the love that he has won even though it be the 
love of man. He knew, also, that the love of 
this good old man for him could never express the 
half of its richness and fullness, and he said, 
pressing the old man’s hand : 

“ Like as a father pitieth his child, my dear 
friend, do you pity and love me? I know I am 
grateful — very. In this matter I have been reti- 
cent. Only to my wife’s father and to you have 
I spoken of it — \.o you only with entire freedom. 
Be entirely frank with me as I shall be with you ; 
advise me always. 1 shall consider it a favor. 
Reticence or silent concealment does not indicate 
real friendship !” 

“ Then, lad,” the old man said, throwing an arm 
over his shoulder, *‘this one word — be very care- 
ful to do right always and you won’t be apt to 
do wrong at any time, see ? And now that you 
are an un-married man, be exceedingly careful of 
yourself. Do not think, as many do, that you 
can dodge in and out among the Ten Command- 
ments and never become entangled, but walk 
in that straight line that knows no crooks ! But 
God bless me, I must go! Drop me a line 
whenever you wish, and run out to see me, won’t 
you? Good-bye.” 

A tear stood in Norman Despard’s eye as the 
old man left him. “ I will confide everything to 
him,” he said. So wise, so true a friend, de- 
serves to share in all that interests me.” 


Behind Plastered tValls, 


139 


CHAPTER XX. 

** * Straight ahead, then to the left, the south- 
east corner.’ 

** I have obeyed instructions to the letter, I 
have burrowed under- the plaster until there is 
none left where it is possible for anything to be 
concealed, and I have failed ! And now, to re- 
move the debris and restore the room to its 
former condition before the General’s return. 
Just one week, and then farewell to Elmwood 
Hall ! Mr. Guernsey, poor old man, will replace 
the ceiling that has fallen! How good of him 
to come at once, himself, instead of sending his 
workmen.” 

Miss Lewis! Mr. Guernsey, he want you! 
Whar you is ?” 

‘‘ I will be right down, Juno. No, ask Mr. 
Guernsey to come up !” 

With palpitating heart Miss Lewis adjusted her 
specks and awaited at the head of the garret 
stairs the coming of the old builder, who had 
repaired and remodelled the hall during the last 
forty years. 

You are very kind to come so soon, Mr. 


140 Behind Plastered Walls. 

Guernsey/’ Miss Lewis said to him as he slowly 
mounted the stairs. ‘‘ I think that houses with 
such long stairs ought to be provided with 
elevators. Do not you?” she asked, laughing. 

Oh, these modern fads will do for young, 
lazy folk, but we old men don’t mind the long 
stairs a bit. Do you know I never can git used 
to this place sense I rebilt it last. Everything 
’pears to be turned right around. I can’t git the 
pints of the compass, sense the stairs was moved 
and turned around. Can’t tell where I be, 
hardly.” 

“ The stairs moved and turned around,” Miss 
Lewis said, in open-eyed wonder. 

Yis, miss. Didn’t you know that the stairs 
used to come up here ? Right here was the top 
step, facin’ the east, see ? Now there’s the north- 
east an’ there’s the sou’east. Its easy enuff to 
git the pints from here.” 

** When — when was this change made, Mr. 
Guernsey ?” 

“ ’Bout sixteen or seventeen year ago, I reckon. 
Lemme see. Kate is ’bout seventeen or eight- 
een— which is it? An’ she was about a year old 
when they brung her up here one day with my 
dinner. Yis, it’s near upon seventeen year — 
seventeen in September, ’twill be.” 

‘‘ And you can have the plaster all on, and the 
^muss cleared away in three or four days, cer 
tainly ?” Miss Lewis asked. 


Behind Plastered Walls. 141 

Three days of this ’ere weather will do, sure. 
Yis, I kin promise it in four days.” 

“Then let it be commenced at once.” 

“ Oh, I came with the wagon and mortar all 
ready mixed in barrels. Jim’ll have the scratch- 
coat on in an hour!” Mr. Guernsey said, as they 
descended the stairs. Miss Lewis followed him 
down one flight, then excusing herself she fairly 
flew up the top flight again. 

“Now do I see it all! Poor old Hannah’s 
direction was right, but the poor old soul forgot 
about the changes that had been made, especially 
the removal and turning of the stairs. There is 
the south-east corner ! Straight ahead from 
here, then ‘to the left — the southeast corner!’ 
How clear it is now! Oh, shall I, after all, dis- 
cover my birthright ? And if I do, what then ? 
Oh, it seems to me that I can almost see it ! Pa- 
tience, patience ! After Mr. Guernsey is through 
I shall have two whole days! But why wait! 
Something may happen — the General return 
sooner than he expected. I will send Juno to 
the village on some pretext and commence now. 
Ah, the ceiling may fall again ! I’m sure it will ! 
But I will keep the door locked and make the 
discovery at a convenient time ! I must not 
hurry ! No, I will first go and see dear Mr. 
Osman. The dear, good old man— -so wise, too. 
It makes me better, more comfortable every . 
time I see and converse with him. And then I 


142 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


need counsel. I will go and see him to-morrow, 
and the next day ” 

Vegetation athirst is not more eager for dew 
than is a heart that loves for words that speak of 
the one loved ! And so Lena, laughing to her- 
self without knowing why, resolved to go and 
talk with old Mr. Osman. It did her so much 
good. Seldom she saw the old man, never, but 
she heard some word of Norman Despard, whose 
name her lips were long since prohibited from 
speaking, but which spoken by some other tongue, 
always sent the blood tingling through her veins. 
And what pleasure, what delight there was in it ! 
Mr. Osman’s words, which only spoke Norman 
Despard’s praises, were almost intoxicating to 
Lena. They were as manna to the hungry soul. 
They were all her hungry soul had to feed upon, 
yet she, poor innocent, did not dream whence 
came the delight. 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


143 


CHAPTER XXL 

** Dear Mr. Osman, I could not refrain from 
coming to-day. The General ” 

“Is still from home. Yes, little girl, I knew 
this, and that you are freed from your irksome 
task for a little.” 

“ Mr. Osman, you must not think my task in 
any sense irksome. No, it long since ceased to 
be that. Indeed, it is a pleasure. Gouty, splen- 
etic, the poor old man is, to be sure. But he 
suffers greatly, and you know we must make due 
allowance for sufferers.” 

“ But is the General not exacting — overbear- 
ing?” 

“ No ; or it seems not so to me. Indeed, it 
does not,” Lena said, observing the incredulous 
smile in the old man’s face. “ You know, Mr. 
Osman, when we become habituated to peculiar- 
ities they are less conspicuous * 

“ And the General is becoming kind, consider- 
ate, I suppose,” smiling expansively. 

“ Now you are laughing at me ! Never mind. 
No, I cannot say that he is, or that he is amiable, 
except at times — then he is considerate and— and 


144 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


— well, I do not know, but I cannot help liking 
him, when ” 

He will let you. I believe it. And I also 
know that there are many worse men than Gen- 
eral Warren. Divested of foolish family pride, 
he would be a different man. Endurable, even 
agreeable. But trench upon that and a more ar- 
rogant, dogmatic, unreasonable being it would 
be difficult to find. It is that that has ruined his 
life, and made him the disagreeable man that he 
has been considered, and justly so.” 

But I am sure, yes, I do know, that he is less 
disagreeable than he was, even when I first knew 
him, and far less exacting. Well, I don’t know 
either,” Lena said, smiling into the old man’s face. 
‘‘ He is selfish, also childish ! He will have 
everything and everybody just as he wants. 
But I do not mind that. He is certainly kind to 
me. I do think that could he have his way, he 
would have me do nothing but sing for him, 
read to him and talk to him from morning until 
night and far into the night.” 

So selfish, is he ?” 

“ Well, no — I don’t know! At any rate he 
wants me to get more assistance in the house and 
devote myself to him. And strange to say I have 
fallen into indolent habits. Let things go and 
spend most of my time with him. It is funny, 
too. He says he pays me and my time is his, to 
command — all of it — and it is no business of mine 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


145 


how he wishes it spent ! Whether singing, read- 
ing or what not ! He wants my service and I 
want his money ! If I am not satisfied I can^^?, 
but once I speak of going, he relents and is so 
kind ! Really I could not leave him, and have 
no desire to do so. Poor, lonely old man ! He 
loves music, Mr. Osman, passionately, especially 
vocal music, of which he never tires. But as I 
sing to him I so pity him that the minor chord 
is ever sounding in my soul, and it goes forth in 
my songs, I know, and so I often miss my oppor- 
tunity to cheer him. I cannot but think of him 
nearing the brink to which we must all come, 
unloved, unloving! Alone! Oh, Mr. Osman, it 
is a dreadful thing to be so entirely alone ! None 
to love, none to cheer ! And he so old, so al- 
most helpless and dependent. Poor old man, I 
know that his mind sometimes turns toward 
God, and as I read the Bible to him sometimes 
he asks me to read some chapters over and over 
again. He repeats the Lord’s Prayer and the 
Apostles’ Creed frequently. But I try to get him 
to substitute for the almost dead formula of the 
creed a living, personal supplication. But he 
only laughs, and says, “ You are a good girl,” 
and that is all the comfort I get.” 

“And yet you persevere! Well, you must 
take an interest in him. I am glad of it. It will 
be good for you, if not for him. Pity he couldn’t 
return some of your interest in him.” 


146 Behind Plastered Walls, 

If we only love those who love us, Mr. 
Osman, what does it profit us ? What thanks 
have we.” 

“True, and your interest in this lonely old 
man — why, it is almost an enthusiasm, one would 
think.” 

“ And if so, would it be wrong, Mr. Osman ?” 

“ Wrong, my child ! It would be God-like, 
and, depend upon it, your reward will be sure.” 

“ If my object be assured, if it only could 
be, to see the old man serene, happy. Oh, 
Mr. Osman, if it could only be ! I mean that 
happiness that comes only to the soul at peace 
with God!” 

“ Persevere, child. You are in the right way. 
I do believe that you are an Evangel sent to that 
hard, lonely man for a purpose, and that purpose 
is the salvation of his soul. I believe that your 
entire mission will be successful.” 

“ It does me so much good to hear you say 
this, Mr. Osman. I do so little deserving of com- 
mendation. Nothing, it seems to me. My one 
object in going there was so different.” 

“ Modesty is ever the outward sign of an in- 
ward grace, my child, and I am glad you possess 
this rare commodity. Persevere, girl. You 
cannot, of course, reconstruct the old man, but 
you may greatly benefit him, even save him. 
You have evidently determined to do this, and 
so will persevere. By the way, I saw Norman 


Behmd Plastered Walls, 147 

Despard a few days ago, and he inquired very 
kindly after you. He begs thatyou will see him, 
and declares that it is necessary. He is your 
guardian, you know. Why not see him?” 

“ Do not ask it, Mr. Osman. I cannot, not yet. 
Oh, it cannot be necessary, surely.” 

And Lena laughed a little unnatural laugh, with 
no heart or joy in it. 

“ Girlie, your laughter has that minor chord 
you spoke of, which belies your seeming mirth. 
Why is it ?” 

A minor chord in my laughter, Mr. Osman. 
How imaginative you are. I ” 

Lena burst into tears, which were to Mr. Os- 
man as inexplicable as the laughter. 

There, there, child,” Mr. Osman said, putting 
his hand paternally on her shoulder. I would 
not cry, little girl. Really I see nothing at 
which to laugh or cry.” 

Forgive me, Mr. Osman. I am ashamed. I 
have nothing to weep for, 1 am sure. Only rec- 
ollections came up of the days when I was 
happy and content,” Lena said, drying her eyes. 

‘‘ When you were a member of Norman’s 
family ?” 

** Oh, no, no ! My happy days far antedate 
that. They terminated when I entered that 
family, Mr. Osman, and I sometimes fear they 
will never return.” 

‘‘ Was not Norman a kind guardian?” 


148 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


The kindest, the best of guardians, Mr. Os- 
man. It was not that.” 

“ Was not Clara agreeable and kind ?” 

Do not ask me. Clara never liked me, and I 
have thought — nay, I cannot dissemble — I know 
that she did not want me there. She had that 
right, you know, so I could not be happy while 
in her house.” 

“ Did she treat you unkindly ?” 

“ Excuse me, my friend, but not even to you 
shall I make complaint of Norman’s wife.” 

“ Did you know that she has left him ?” 

“ Left him ! What do you mean ?” 

“ Norman Despard’s wife left his house the 
very day that you did Lena, and he has never 
met her since.” 

“ Left her home — her husband ! Left Norman ! 
Oh, impossible, impossible !” 

“ And refuses to return. Indeed, he has never 
met her since. She returned to her father's 
house and refuses to even see Norman.” 

“Oh, Mr. Osman, there must be some mistake. 
This cannot be true. It is too horrible.” 

“ It is true, Lena. Norman has tried through 
his father-in-law to induce Clara to see him — to 
return to her home. But all effort has been un- 
availing. He waited three months, then stored 
his furniture and rented his house. He now lives 
at the Hotel Renwick. He wishes very much 
to see you in reference to some business matter.” 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


149 


‘‘Does he know where I am living?” 

“ No. He thinks that you must be teaching 
music in one of the large cities.” 

“ Do not undeceive him, Mr. Osman, promise 
me that you will not !” 

Mr. Osman hesitated. Lena took his soft, 
white hand between her little softer ones and 
looking into his face beseechingly, said : 

” Do promise me, Mr. Osman !” 

” I do not know why I should not, yet I can 
see no reason why I should,” he finally said. “ It 
seems to me that unless you have a good reason 
for not doing so, you ought to see your guardian 
whenever he wishes to see you.” 

“There is a reason, a good one. Oh, it is 
impossible! I cannot — I cannot! Some time, 
perhaps, away in the future, but not now — not 
now !” 

“ I cannot resist your pleading, little girl. Yet 
my judgment tells me that I ought to.” 

Lena lifted the old man’s hand to her lips and 
kissed it. Lena had that grace of person, of soul, 
that can never be simulated. It was her own by 
birthright, or inheritance ; at any rate her very 
own, and it radiated her whole being now. Mr. 
Osman saw it, felt it, was dominated by it, and 
acquiesced, but was silent. Yet he had meant 
to know why Lena, too, refused audience to 
Norman Despard. He had thought of the 
couplet ; 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


150 


“ He ought not to pretend to friendship’s name, 

Who reckons not himself and friend the same.” 

And so had determined, in the interest of his 
absent friend, to aid him if he could. But Lena’s 
reticence baffled him. He said no more and 
soon Lena took her departure. As she went out, 
she missed the pleasure that other conversations 
concerning Norman had brought to her. She 
had never felt so miserable, so disconsolate, she 
thought, as now — yet knew not why.” 

What can I do ? What can 1 do ?” she asked 
herself many times on her homeward way. 

Nothing! Alas, nothing!” came to her in 
answer. 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


151 


CHAPTER XXII. 

Norman Despard, with the one purpose of 
trying once more to effect a reconciliation with 
his wife, had, after debating the matter for a 
week, taken an early train for Boston, and was 
now crossing the Common, when his attention 
was attracted by the quick patter of horses’ feet. 
Glancing in the direction whence the sound 
came, he saw a man and woman on horseback, 
apparently racing down the street. A moment 
more and he saw the man attempt to catch the 
bridle of the horse ridden by the woman, but 
miss it. Then he knew that it was a runaway, 
and he saw that the horse ridden by the woman, 
who was veiled, was the faster animal. Without 
a moment’s reflection he dashed into the street 
with the purpose of stopping the horse, if pos- 
sible, for he saw that it was wholly unmanage- 
able. He sprang at the bridle as the horse 
neared, and in a minute more, though Norman 
was dragged a long distance, he had twisted the 
curbed bit and the conquered horse was stopped. 

You are frightened. Wait a moment and I 
will assist you to dismount,” he said, looking 
now for the first time at the lady. 


152 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


“Now do you lie?” she said in reply. “I am 
not frightened. Take that, and that, and that, in 
part payment for the debt I owe you ! I would 
die sooner than be saved by you,” accompanying 
each word with a stroke of her riding-whip over 
the head and across the face of her would-be 
saviour. The end of the lash finally penetrated 
Norman’s eye, and blinded, maddened with pain 
he involuntarily loosed the bridle. The fright- 
ened horse tore away with its living freight, with 
her escort in rapid pursuit. 

“ That was beastly, sir. Are you blinded ? 
It’s hopeful the she-devil willget her neck broke,” 
a gentleman who had witnessed the scene said 
to Norman, hastening to him. 

“God forbid!” Norman said. “Will you 
kindly give me your assistance, sir.” 

“ Can you see ?” the stranger asked. 

“ I cannot open my eye, as yet. I guess it will 
be all right. But it pains me awfully. Why is 
that shouting?” 

“ Good Heavens ! The woman has fallen from 
the horse ! They are bearing her to the drug 
store. But you require attention. Come, we 
will take this cab.” 

“Never mind me, sir. Let us ascertain if 
Clara — I mean the lady — is hurt.’ 

They entered the cab. 

“I know it is diabolical to wish it,” said the 


Behind Plastered Walls. 153 

stranger, “ but if that woman’s neck is broken, it 
serves her right. You know her?” 

“ Know her, sir ! She is my own wife.” 

“ Your wife, and riding with Beaumont Fair- 
child ! She cannot know his character, surely !” 

** Nor do I.” 

Well, he has none to lose.” But the stranger 
was talking to deaf ears. His companion had 
fainted. 

Norman did not recover consciousness in some 
hours. Then he heard a whispered conference, 
from which he learned that it was likely that he 
would lose the sight of the damaged eye, and 
that the woman who had thus injured him was 
dead, her skull having been fractured when she 
was thrown from the back of the frightened 
steed. 

Norville Banks had taken Norman to his own 
bachelor home, where he remained for a week 
unable to leave the darkened room to which he 
was ordered by the specialist, in whose charge he 
was placed. But his father-in-law, to whom Mr. 
Banks, who knew him, had told of the encounter 
of Norman and his wife, had been every day to 
see him. He had learned from Norman the ob- 
ject of his visit to Boston. He exonerated Nor- 
man from all blame for his daughter’s actions 
from first to last. 

“ The demon of jealousy possessed her, Nor- 
man,” he said, “ and that means hell within her 


154 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


own breast, and I had almost said, hell to 
every one connected with her, for Clara would 
take no counsel from any one. She seemed 
possessed by the evil one from the moment she 
left your house.” 

Father, ^ forgive and forget ’ is a good old 
motto. Let it be so now. The poor, misguided 
girl is gone. Let us not judge, then we shall 
not misjudge her.” 

** Norman, my dear son, for such you must 
ever be to me, it rejoices me that you are so 
forgiving. I had never lost hope that Clara and 
you would become reunited. And I strove to 
bring it about. But I had no encouragement. 
Clara, poor girl, was very unreasonable. She 
inherited a large fortune from her maternal grand- 
mother, and I think that was the worst thing 
that could have happened, for it made her 
entirely independent of everybody. But she 
made no will, Norman, and so a large part of 
her fortune goes legally to you, my boy.” 

“ Father, under no consideration will I touch 
one dollar of Clara’s fortune. Whatever 
must be done to divert it to other uses, I will 
ever be ready to do. But never mention me in 
connection with that money, for what I say is 
final.” 

“ Of course I must respect your wishes, but I 
wish you had determined otherwise. It would 


Behind Plastered Walls, 155 

have pleased me better and been some reparation 

for the wrongs ” 

“ Father !” 

“ It shall be as you say, Norman. But have 
you considered. You may not recover yoursight, 

in which event your future ” 

“ Never mind, father. Were I blind in both 
eyes, my decision would be the same.” 

“ Well, then, remember this, you are my son, 
and my fortune is at your disposal.” 

“ Grandest of men,” Norman said, with much 
emotion. “ You almost make me love you more 
than I have always loved you, and I thought that 
impossible. If in the years to come I am ever in 
need of money I will come to you unhesitatingly. 
Now you are satisfied ?” 

Entirely. It will be my greatest pleasure to 
contribute to your well-being in any way. You 
know you were always a favorite with me, and I 
have been afraid sometimes that our close friend- 
ship from your youth up may have influenced 
your actions in the years gone by — in connection 
with Clara, I mean.” 

Now, Father Steelman, please don’t. It is 
enough that we have loved each other and do love 
each other despite everything. Let us think only 
of this and strive to be happy. It takes but little 
sometimes to disrupt friendship. Let ours rather 
be cemented by these misfortunes and remain 
ever firm.” 


15 ^ 


Behhid Plastered Walls. 


CHAPTER XXIII. 

A PROLONGED shriek rang through the halls 
of Elmwood Hall, and Juno fell headlong down 
the long stairs, bumping and thumping all the 
way down until she landed in a heap at the 
bottom, frightened out of her wits. She heard 
the gong sound and reverberate through the big 
house again and again, before she could either 
regain courage or strength to admit her master, 
who was chafing at the unaccustomed delay in 
answering his summoms. 

But at last she did so, and meekly took the 
tongue-lashing which began the moment the big 
bolt was thrown back and before the door was 
opened. 

“Wench!” the master of Elmwood thun- 
dered, “ how dare you keep me waiting here ? 
Begone, now, and send Miss Lewis to me.” 

The master noted the slow movement of the 
negress, but attributing it to sulkiness or laziness, 
he became still more irate, and hurling his heavy 
cane after her said, “ Now will you hurry, you 
black imp of Satan?” 

“No, 1 wont!” Juno said, “I go up dem stairs 
no mo’, an’ you can’t make me !” 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


157 


“The devil I can’t!” the master thundered. 
But a bad attack of the gout had almost incapa- 
citated him from getting from the carriage to 
the hall, even with the aid of the heavy cane 
that he had hurled at the frightened negress, and 
without it he could not take a single step.”, 

“ Bring me my cane,” he now said to Juno. 

“To break my head with ! Not much! Dis 
chile ain’t no fool ef you duz tink so! Not 
much ! You git you own cane ef you want it 
bad ! You don’t ketch dis chile up dem stairs 
agin, nuther. Dis house is hanted !” 

“ Haunted ! you black Jezebel. Get my cane, 
I tell you, or I’ll haunt you, and that mighty 
quick.” 

“ Mighty quick, eh ? Lemme see you,” the 
tantalizing darkey said, knowing full well that 
her master could not move. 

“ Miss Lewis !” 

The master’s voice rang out loud as a thunder- 
clap. Juno arose with an alacrity that but a few 
moments before seemed impossible. She walked 
toward the stairs for the cane, which she was about 
to pick up, when she saw a beautiful young girl 
standing at the head of the stairs looking at her. 

“ Lord ’a’ massy !” she screamed. “ Bar’s an- 
uder gost !” and fled precipitately to the culin- 
ary department, at the rear of the hall. 

The young girl descended the stairs, picked 
up the cane, for she had heard the order, and 


158 Behind Plastered Walls, 

handed it to. the master of Elmwood Hall, at 
whom she gazed, without uttering a word. 

“ I called Miss Lewis,” the General said. 
“Has she become deaf all at once, or is she 
dead ?” 

The girl glanced in the large glass in the hat- 
rack and gave a startled look, for she saw there 
mirrored — Lena Lockwood — and not Miss Lewis, 
i Two hours previously Miss Lewis, hammer 
and chisel in hand, had gone to the top floor of 
Elmwood Hall, to the southeast, and having 
locked the door behind her, had commenced to 
peck, peck at the ceiling, which came down to 
within four feet of the floor. 

' “ Here should commence the rafters,” she said. 

“Here the tin box, if any there be, that holds 
my destiny — my birthright.’' 

The mortar came off in small chunks at first, 
then larger. The dust flew, filled the room and 
settled on everything. But every bit of furniture 
was covered, as was the carpet, with great white 
sheets. Soon everything was the color of the old 
plaster. Even Miss Lewis, herself, was so com- 
pletely transformed that she would not have 
known herself. She worked on until three rafters 
were uncovered, but found nothing. 

“ If it is not here by this rafter, where, oh, 
where can it be?” she asked, as she began to pry 
off the plaster and pick it from between the 
laths. She placed the chisel in a new place, and 


Behind Plastered Walls, 159 

drove it through the plaster with the hammer, 
when there came to her ears a sound that almost 
took away her breath. It was a metallic sound. 
She pried the hole larger, then inserted the chisel 
again. The same sound came to her quick ear 
again. Then the mortar came off in big chunks, 
the laths were pried loose, broken off, when, lo ! 
tin, as bright as new, as though deposited there 
but an hour ago, met her gaze. She seized it 
and tried to pull it through the hole she had 
made, but not until she had broken off another 
lath could she do so. Then she took it out. It 
was only a little tin box about half-a-foot long, 
with a cover. Miss Lewis sat down, and before 
removing the lid, said : 

Blessed Lord, for this much I thank Thee !” 

But not here could she open this precious box. 
Not until within the privacy of her own room, 
where she could weep unrestrainedly, as she 
knew she should. She arose to go to her room, 
but in her excitement and nervousness the box 
dropped from her hand, the lid being knocked 
off as it fell, and a paper, yellow from age, was 
disclosed. She saw on it the one word Certi- 
ficate,” when she fell upon her knees and uttered 
a fervent thanksgiving. Then she replaced the 
lid, unlocked the door, went out, locked it again, 
went to the stairs and saw Juno’s wide-open eyes, 
which seemed all white, staring up at her. 

It’s a gost,” the frightened girl screamed, 


i6o Behind Plastered Walls, 

and fell. Miss Lewis, at the same instant, hear- 
ing the gong, ran to her room, put the box under 
the pillow on her bed, hurriedly removed her 
clothing, washed her face and hands, removed 
the kerchief from her head, gave to her beautiful 
golden hair a few brushes, donned another dress 
and hurried towards the door, just as she heard 
her name called in so loud and angry a tone, all 
forgetful of the paraphernalia that was necessary 
to render her Miss Lewis.” As we have seen, 
she was too nervous and excited to speak when 
she came so suddenly into the General’s pres- 
ence, and not until he had spoken, and she knew 
that he did not recognize her, and not even 
until she had seen herself reflected in the mirror, 
did she fully comprehend the premature dis- 
closures that must follow. Then the superla- 
tive ludicrousness of the situation came to her^ 
and she laughed. She could not help it, try as 
she would. And for the first time in many years, 
hearty, silvery laughter was echoed through 
Elmwood Hall. 

And the master thereof ! 

He had sunk into the big arm-chair that stood 
by the table and gazed into the beautiful face 
before him, more in wonder than anger. 

I see nothing so mirth-provoking, young 
woman,” he finally said. I called loud enough, 
I think, for Miss Lewis! Has she become sud- 
denly deaf, or is she dead ?” 


Behind Plastered Walls, i6i 

“ Alas, poor old girl, sir, she is gone.** 

“ Gone, Miss !’* 

“ Gone, sir — gone dead — past all hope of resur- 
rection ! I am sorry, if you liked her so much. 
But 1 will do my best to fill her place, sir.'* 

You — you fill her place. What do you mean? 
Who wants you ?” 

“Miss Lewis, poor woman, thought me fully 
competent. Moreover, she hoped that in time 
you would come to like me full as well as you 
did her! You look incredulous, sir, but I as- 
sure you that I can do everything that she could 
and just as well, even to singing and playing for 
your amusement. I know all her songs, even 
those you liked the best. And I know your fav- 
orites, too. Listen, sir." 

To General Lewis Warren’s amazement, this 
bright, beautiful, but audacious young woman, 
tripped across the hall into the music room, 
whence there soon came such a flood of music as 
only Miss Lewis, and years agone. Miss Lock- 
wood, had ever emitted in his hearing. He 
heard the song, his own favorite, sung through, 
then the young girl returned. 

“ How do you like my voice?” she asked. 

“ Come here,” the General said. 

The girl came unhesitatingly to him. He 
gazed into her face long and earnestly. Then he 
said: 


i 62 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


‘‘You are not Miss Lewis. Who in Heaven’s 
name are you ?” 

“ Oh, sir,” she said, dropping on her knees be- 
fore him and taking one of his hands in hers, “I 
am Miss Lewis that Regina Warren — your 
granddaughter, that is ! Oh, Grandfather, dear 
Grandfather, your blessing and the privilege of 
loving you, being loved by you and of minister- 
ing to your comfort all the days of your life, is 
all that I want.” 

“ Child,” the old man said, without one sign of 
anger, “ this is a most marvellous thing. I have 
no grandchild ” 

“ Oh, yes, you have, sir. Your son, my dear 
father, was the lawfully wedded husband of my 
own dear mother. Dear Mother Lockwood took 
me from her dying arms, and brought me up as 
she would her own child.” 

“ What foolish story do I hear ?” 

“ Oh, sir, I have the proof. 1 did not dare to 
make myself known to you until I had. I have 
found my mother’s and my father’s certificate of 
marriage.” 

“ Found it ?” 

“ Yes, found it, here in this house, where it has 
been hidden these many years — ever since my 
babyhood. Only poor old Hannah, into whose 
custody it was given, knew of its hiding place, 
and it was from her that I, after innumerable in- 


Behind Plastered Walls, 163 

effectual efforts, finally succeeded in learning it. 
But, when you go in to dinner — it is now nearly 
ready — I will bring you such proof of my lineage 
that you can no longer doubt that your blood 
beats strong in my veins. If you are not satis- 
fied, perfectly, I wdll at once leave your house, 
for it was for this purpose only that I came into 
it.” 


164 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


CHAPTER XXIV. 

When General Warren came to his dinner he 
started in amazement ! The first thing that at- 
tracted his attention was the full-length oil paint- 
ing of his sister, dead and buried these many years, 
standing upon the floor near the head of the 
table where Miss Lewis had presided for several 
months, to his satisfaction. Before his surprise 
had subsided, a living picture of this same woman, 
even to the dress and thin lace that was thrown 
over her hair without concealing it, stepped from 
behind the other portrait, stood by its side and 
gazed into the General’s face, with the same 
solemn eyes. 

In Heaven’s name what trick of necromancy 
is this?” he asked. “ Why do I see double?” 

‘‘You do not see double, dear Grandfather, 
nor is this a trick of necromancy ! It is only a 
part of the proof of my lineage that I spoke of. 
On seeing this picture the first time, I saw my 
own likeness, and the means of ultimately estab- 
lishing my claim to being of your blood. Then 
when, in battling with the army of moths that 
infested the Hall, it became necesary to move all 


Behind Plastered Walls. 165 

articles of wearing apparel, all textile fabrics, I 
came across the very dress that was so beauti- 
fully reproduced on canvas, I also saw a means of 
confirming my title to being your descendant. 
But alas, this was no guarantee of my right to 
your name, which was what I craved. And the 
only road to this 1 knew, lay through desolation, 
such as I have wrought above stairs, even 
through heaps of broken laths and bushels of 
plaster.” 

“ When my dear father came to you, sir, to 
tell of his marriage and seek for that assistance 
for his young wife and babe which you alone 
could give, he brought with him his marriage 
certificate to convince you of his marriage, should 
you doubt it. Rebuffed, sick in body and mind, 
and foreseeing a long and severe illness, he gave 
to Hannah, his loyal old nurse, the only evidence 
of his marriage, to keep until he should get well. 
But, sir, he did not get well, and so faithful old 
Hannah hid the certificate in a tin box behind a 
rafter in the garret. The Hall was at once re- 
built, every one was kept out of the garret by 
your orders, and the box was hermetically sealed 
behind lath and plaster.” 

As you know. Mother Lockwood, failing to 
secure recognition for me from you — having 
buried my dear mother in the cemetery, under 
her rightful name — reared the little waif, your 
granddaughter, as best she could— worthy to 


1 66 Behind Plastered Walls. 

inherit her rightful name. Now I have found 
the certificate which shall establish the marriage 
of your son, my father and my mother, and you 
have but to look at your sister’s portrait and 
upon me, dressed in the very garments she 
wore, to be assured that the pure blood of the 
Warrens courses through my veins, for we are 
marvellously alike, my aunt and I, are we not?” 

It is well, my child, if you indeed can estab- 
lish the marriage of my son. Otherwise I would 
put you away as an impostor, even as I put away 
your mother, for I honestly believed her an 
abandoned creature, trying to steal the inherit- 
ance of an honored name. But if you have 
that, I myself will establish its validity, if it be 
possible.” 

‘‘ Dear Grandfather !” the young girl said, 
hastening to him. That is all I can ask. Do 
that, and I will be to you, oh, such a grand- 
daughter ! Do give me your blessing, if only 
conditionally. I am so happy.” 

She knelt at his feet, and with tears streaming 
from her eyes, she seized his hand and carried it 
to her lips, then to her head, and the blessing 
was pronounced. 

“ Oh, Grandfather,” she then said, rising, see 
that — and that ” — placing her little hand beside 
his little hand. ** Was there ever such likeness ? 
See the size, the shape, the fingers, the nails. 
Oh, I am so glad, so proud.” 


Behind Plastered Walls, 167 

‘‘ Are you indeed proud of being my grand- 
child ?” the old man asked. 

“ Proud ! Oh, sir, I came here with the one 
purpose of establishing my right to your name, 
because I knew it was mine by right. But I 
feared that I should hate for I had heard little 
to your credit, and it was told abroad that you 
were a hard, cruel, unlovely and unlovable man, 
whom no one could love, and who could love no 
one. But I soon learned to both respect and 
love you. Wishing not to love you, fearing I 
should hate you, I soon found myself interested 
in you, loving you. The ties of blood led irre- 
sistibly to it and I could not help it. And now I 
rejoice that my rightful name is also yours; 
proud that I am your grandchild, for I know 
that it is so, should know it, I think, with no 
other proof than the consciousness which tells 
me so. Oh, sir, do not you feel this conscious- 
ness ? What else attracted you to the hideous 
Miss Lewis? Oh, sir, you must have felt it, 
though unknowingly.” 

“ Child, I do feel it, and am almost persuaded 
against my judgment.” 

“ Away down in your heart, Grandfather, there 
is a conviction. Judgment may err, but your 
heart — ah, I feel that I have a place there. My 
likeness to your sister, whom you so loved, I 
have been told, you must know is not acci- 
dental !” 


i68 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


“ But the marriage, child, the marriage !” 

“ Oh, wait.” 

Lena lifted the long train, threw it over her 
arm, and ran from the room. Soon she re- 
turned. 

Here is the box,” she said, with its priceless 
treasure, my mother’s marriage certificate, her 
only dower. Oh, praise God, it is found, it is 
safe! It is in my grandfather’s hand.” 

General Lewis Warren, hitherto hard and un- 
compromising, was softened, convinced, won, by 
the power of this young girl’s personality. He 
could never account for the wonderful in- 
fluence exerted upon him by Miss Lewis, but he 
had felt it growing more and more potent day 
by day. The thought of loving her, whenever it 
came to him, appalled him, while her presence 
charmed him, and now that this beautiful dam- 
sel whom he could not but know was the daugh- 
ter of his son, had burst upon his enchanted 
vision, he was ready to rejoice in the prospect 
that the certificate that he held in his hand 
would legitimatize her and make her his legal 
heir, possessor of his wealth as she was of 
his heart, for his heart had gone out to her in 
spite of himself, as her story was unfolded to 
him. 

He read the certificate through, word by 
word, slowly, carefully, until he came to the sig- 


Behind Plastered Walls. 169 

nature. Then he became excited, almost over- 
come. 

“ Blessed be God! my child,” he said, this is 
providential! Why, this preacher, this man of 
God, who married my son and your mother, was 
my own friend, the only intimate friend of my 
young manhood ! I attended his funeral, was 
one of the bearers, but a short time after this 
ceremony. Oh, my child, had I but known then. 
His parsonage was burned, I remember, and he 
so injured that he succumbed. His church was 
burned at the same time, but all books and valu- 
able papers were saved, and afterwards trans- 
ferred to the new church. For form’s sake we 
will hasten the examination of the record; but 
I recognize my old friend’s writing, and own, 
must own, you as my granddaughter, and will 
proudly acknowledge you as such to the whole 
world at once. Come to me, child, I want you, 
already I want you, here.” 

With a glad cry, Lena sprang into the arms of 
the old man, and their tears were mingled but 
for one brief moment, after which joy could not 
be restrained. Then the exuberance of youth 
broke forth into joyful exclamation : 

** Dear Grandfather,” Lena exclaimed, “ to 
think that you and I alone have done it. No 
law, no lawyers ! Only the cry of nature, the 
longing of heart after heart, our two hearts 
alone 1 Oh, how often when I was ‘ Miss Lewis’ 


170 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


have I longed to put my arms around your neck 
and lay my head upon your breast, just like this. 
Oh, Grandfather, this is very like, I am sure, 
Heaven on earth. Do scold me or I shall think 
it is Heaven. Oh, if only dear Mother Lock- 
wood were here. But she sees us, I know, and is 
happy. And that other mother, also, and my 
dear father.” 

The young thing lay quiescent with the old 
arms tightly clasping her. The old erstwhile 
indurated heart, beat fast and hard against the 
young heart that had so strongly rejuvenated it. 
The old head drooped over the juvenile, up- 
turned face, the old eyes looked lovingly into 
the young ones and saw unmistakably reflected 
there — love. The old lips that had kissed no hu- 
man being in a generation, were pressed upon 
the pure forehead. 

Not there. Grandfather, here.” 

Then the old and the young lips met, the com- 
pact was made, the seal affixed. Ever after it 
should be grandfather and granddaughter. 
Nevermore General Warren, nevermore Miss 
Lewis ! That “ poor old girl ” was dead, Lena 
had said, beyond all hope of resurrection. 

“ Oh Grandfather,” Lena now said, you have 
eaten no dinner !” 

“Eating dinner, after such a feast as I have 
enjoyed, would be superfluous ! One cup of tea, 
poured by my granddaughter, will suffice!” 


Behind Plastered Walls. 171 

Lena humored him. But for this time only,’’ 
she explained. 

Juno was summoned. She stood aghast — 
looking first at the young lady, then at the 
picture on canvass. 

Goddie !” was all she said until the matter 
was explained. 

I knowed it all the time,” she then said. 

Knowed it, you blockhead ! knowed what ?” 

‘‘Dat Miss Lena Lockwood, she be you own 
grandchild ?” Only, I didn’t know Miss Lewis, 
— she Miss Lena — Golly! Dis chile didn’t 
know dat!” 

“ Who tole you, you imp of darkness 1” 

Dis chile ain’t no imp o’ darkness, nor light- 
ness, nuther! Mammy told me, shu enuf, an 
she know all ’bout de Warrens ebry time!” 

** Poor old Hannah did know. Grandfather. 
But she was a faithful creature, and kept her 
own counsel, and evidently no tales concerning 
the inmates of the Hall were allowed to go out 
from the Hall,” Lena explained. 

No great ado was made, but everywhere that 
General Warren went, Regina,” or Lena, also 
went, and was acknowledged as his grand- 
daughter. 

Mr. Osman was advised by mail of the changed 
relations at Elmwood Hall, the entire suc- 
cess of Lena’s mission,” and a long letter of com 


172 Behind Plastered Walts, 

gratulations was soon followed by the old man 
in person. 

To Norman Lena wrote, giving a detailed ac- 
count of her doings since she left his house, add- 
ing that it was for the purpose of establishing her 

identity ” that she left his house. She said no 
word of Clara. By return mail she received a 
short note from her guardian, saying, that in a 
few days he would wait upon her grandfather, 
to whom he would give an ** accounting ” for his 
stewardship as her “ guardian.” The envelope 
and paper were bordered with black, and Lena 
wondered for whom. 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


173 


CHAPTER XXV. 

To Lena came also a letter, scarcely less 
valued than that from Norman. One there was 
who had proved faithful above almost all others, 
who had sought her society from early childhood, 
whose friendship had not waned during the en- 
forced separation, but which had led him to 
visit her during her sojourn in the city, many 
times. Friendship had imperceptibly grown 
into love, until to longer refrain from the telling 
of it to Lena had become impossible, and so, on 
a certain occasion when it had dawned upon 
Bernard Durand that Lena was not happily sit- 
uated in Norman’s home, though she had uttered 
no word of complaint, he had told his love and 
offered her his hand in marriage. The pained 
surprise that was written in Lena’s face as she 
heard it, much more than the gentle refusal, told 
Bernard that all his hopes had been vain. Lena 
told in her gentlest words of her regret” that 
his feelings of friendship, which she so prized, 
had ripened into love, the possiblity of which 
she had never dreamed and which she could not 
reciprocate. 

Bernard had immediately dropped all talk of 
love, and it was but a little while after this that 


174 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


Lena left her home in the city, and went no one 
knew nor suspected whither. 

Now that she had found her grandfather, how- 
ever, whom Bernard had known all the days of 
his life, and was an inmate of the Hall, though 
he had not as yet seen her, he wrote a letter 
of congratulation. Lena replied joyously. 

And to Ruth Despard she wrote more joyously, 
asking pardon for long silence, and assuring her 
that all would be explained at their first inter- 
view, which would be soon. 

This letter was speedily followed by Lena in 
person, accompanied by her grandfather. 

“Oh, Grandpa, see, there is dear old Bruno!"' 
Lena said, as they stopped at the entrance to the 
courtyard. 

She jumped from the landau and ran toward 
the huge beast, which came bounding toward 
her in no very friendly manner, evidently regard- 
ing her as an intruder. But she sat down on the 
soft, green grass, and called to him. Whether 
he remembered the tones or otherwise, he came 
to her, wagged his huge tail, sniffed about her, 
and soon licked her hands, and expressed the 
utmost pleasure. 

“ Dear, darling old treasure,” she said, encir- 
cling his huge neck with her arms, “you shall 
come home with me, and we will never again be 
separated. Down, Bruno ! That is grandpa ! 
He will not bite. Grandpa, he is just lovely ! 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


175 


Oh, dear, dear, Ruth, it is I, Lena !” she ex- 
claimed, as Ruth came out of the house and 
then stopped as though uncertain as to who was 
making so free with Bruno, who would never be 
friendly with strangers. 

“ Oh, my child,” Ruth now said, opening her 
arms, into which Lena slid with the old-time 
fondness. “ Is it indeed you ? ■ Good morning,” 
she said, turning to General Warren, “ I con- 
gratulate you with all my heart. You have 
found a treasure in this little girl, and I cannot 
help begrudging her !” 

Pray do not. Miss Despard, for if ever any 
place needed such a treasure more than Elm- 
wood Hall, any man more than its lonely mas- 
ter, I know not where to find them!” 

Oh, Ruth, I have felt myself growing old of 
late, with such responsibilities coming upon me, 
but here with you again — oh. Grandpa, were it 
not for you I could almost wish that I might 
stay here. I feel such a sense of security in 
Ruth’s arms as I have not felt since I left them 
four years ago. I could almost sing ‘ Home 
again.’ Dear Ruth, we must see each other here- 
after every day. You have no father nor mother 
any more, and I have none. But we can be sis- 
ters, can we not ?” 

She said it with the innocence of childhood, 
but Ruth gave a quick, startled, yet hopeful 
glance into her young face, and the blood crini» 


176 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


soned her own face and brow. She pressed the 
young form to a closer embrace, but made no 
comment. But her thoughts — who knew them ? 
For she dearly loved her brother, and though an 
‘old maid,’ her perceptions were keen and 
quick. What possibilities came to the mental 
vision of this loving sister and friend, she did not 
voice, but stared them away. 

The General looked gratified, pleased. 

“ Friendship above all ties doth bind the heart, 

And faith in friendship is the noblest part 

he quoted. “ You two girls symbolize that motto 
of the Immortal Bard as I have neverseen it sym- 
bolized. I hope. Miss Ruth, that we shall see 
you often at the Hall.” 

“ Thank you, General. Our little girl will 
prove a lodestone. I’ll warrant.” 

“ And so will you, dear Ruth.” 

“ And you will come to see me frequently ?” 

“ And why not ? Oh, Ruth,” Lena whispered, 
“grandpa is just lovely. You cannot imagine 
how good, how kind, how considerate he is, 
ever. Oh, I am so happy.” 

“ Perfectly happy, dear?” 

“ As happy as mortals can be. Oh, how could 
I be happier?” 

As they stepped into the carriage to return 
home, Lena called, “ Come Bruno. Oh, Ruth, I 


Behmd Plastered Walls, 177 

cannot leave him, ’’she said. ‘^No, not even one 
day longer.” 

‘‘ You think so much of him,” the General 
said. 

Think so much of him ! Why, Grandpa, he 
was Norman’s first gift to me ! Dear old Bruno, 
do you want to go ? Come on then ! Good-bye, 
dear Ruth !” 

'' Are you going, Bruno ?” Ruth asked. The 
dog whined and jumped upon his old mistress as 
the carriage started, but the next minute darted 
on ahead of the carriage and Ruth stood alone, 
the tears running down her face ? 

Is this but a foretaste of what is to come ?” 
she said. Is Ruth to be entirely forsaken, for 
the dear child ? God grant it, if for the best. 
For hint what would I not endure?” 

For whom ?” 

So absorbed had Ruth been in her own 
thoughts that she had not noted the approach of 
Norman, who had but just arrived at home and 
come to meet his sister, who stood gazing at 
some receding object. 

“Oh Brother, you frightened me!” 

“ For whom. Sister?” 

“ Whom but my brother ?” 

“ And why should you endure for him?” 

“ Because he is my brother,” she answered, 
evasively. 


178 Behind Plastered Walls. 

“ Who has been here, Ruth?” he asked, ‘‘and 
where is Bruno?” 

“ General Warren and Lena have been here,” 
she said, “ and Bruno has followed his young 
mistress.” 

“Followed! Ruth, why did you let him? 
They do not want him, and I — I wouldn’t take a 
thousand dollars for him I” 

“ A thousand dollars, Norman, for that old 
dog?” 

“ No money could buy him ! You know how 
I value him ! Why did you let him go ?” 

“ Because he belongs to Lena, who values him 
fully as high as you do, though differently, per- 
haps, and he could go at her call.” 

They turned, this brother and sister, and si- 
lently entered the silent house. 

“ How lonely it seems without Bruno,” Nor_ 
man said, then observing that tears were in his 
sister’s eyes, he said, “ Ruth, I know you love 
him, and I will go after him. Surely Lena will 
not want him, if you think so much of him !” 

“ Brother,” Ruth said, “ you may go, but 
Bruno will not return with you. Nor would I 
have him. Lena loves him more than I do, he is 
your first gift to her, she said. He loves her 
more than he does me — as does every created 
animate thing I” 

Norman went out, but Ruth ran after him anc^ 


Behijid Plastered Walls, 179 

throwing her arms about him, said, ** Brother, I 
am glad ! It is best so 

Still Norman did not speak, but went on, and 
Ruth, self-sacrificing, loving, noble sister, knew 
why. She felt that her only brother also loved 
Lena best, and yet she could be glad ! Noble 
womanhood ! What more sublimely unselfish?” 


i8o 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


CHAPTER XXVI. 

Miss Warren, permit me to offer congratu- 
lations, and wish you joy.” 

“ I joyfully accept all but the ‘ Miss Warren,' 
Bernard. That from my old fellow-playmate, 
friend of my childhood, of all my life, is too formal 
by far. The putting or taking on the new, does 
not involve the putting away the old — not always^ 
Bernard. Old familiar faces, old familiar friends, 
will always occupy a warm place in my heart, 
and be assured of a hearty welcome at Elmwood 
Hall. So remember, please, that Lena Lock- 
wood lives in Lena Warren.” 
j “ I might have known as much, Lena, and I 
did. Still I did not know but the added digni- 
ties that came with the altered circumstances de- 
manded recognition.” 

I Not from old friends, rest assured,” Lena 
said, with the sweet simplicity of her childhood 
days. I hope to renew the friendships of my 
childhood, and trust that my friends may feel no 
more restraint because of the change in my name 
and circumstances, than I do. God has been 
gracious to me, Bernard, and I trust I may ever 


Behind Plastered Walls, i8i 

hold this in grateful recollection. But this is all. 
My friends will ever find in me Lena^ rendered 
the happier for having found my rightful place 
in the world, but to them the same, always. I 
am sorry to see a little holding aloof, even you 
did not come as quickly to me with congratula- 
tions as I expected and hoped. Your sisters, 
whose friendship I so highly prized in the by- 
gone days, have not come to me, and I shall have 
to go to them first, I suppose.” 

‘‘To tell the truth, Lena, they in common with 
everybody else have stood all their lives in awe 
of General Warren, and that ” 

“ I know, I know,” Lena interrupted, “ and 
I shared the feeling, thinking him cold and hard, 
as he was, perhaps.” 

“And he is not?” Bernard asked. 

“ He was, Bernard. But never was man more 
changed. Oh, you must learn to know grand- 
pa as he is. He is just lovely, only too indulgent 
to me.” 

“ A good fault, if it be one.” 

“ Oh, Bernard ! I cannot tell you how happy 
I am become. Why, the bird in my heart is 
carolling continually, and I go about singing all 
the day.” 

“ Suppose you favor me with a song now ?” 

“With pleasure. What shall it be?” she 
asked, seating herself at her piano, the present 
from Norman, 


i 82 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


Your favorite.” 

“ I have none, save ^ Praise God from whom 
all blessings flow,’ which is ever bubbling up in 
my soul, involuntarily, but I will not inflict 
you.” 

Lena sang, not one song, but several, at Ber- 
nard’s request. He had heard her sing at Nor- 
man’s, but never like this. There she had been 
ever depressed — ever repressed — here she was 
joyous, free. And she had the incitement of a 
known appreciative listener, and so could do her 
best. 

“You have improved marvellously,” Bernard 
said. “ I shall hope to hear you often.” 

“ As often as you will come,” Lena said. 
“ And don’t forget your sisters.” 

“ They will be only too glad to come, as I shall 
be to bring them.” 


5 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


183 


CHAPTER XXVII. 

“ Daughter, it is now more than a year and a 
half since you came to Elmwood Hall, ostensibly 
in search of a position as housekeeper for a 
disagreeable old man, but really in search of 
proof of your right to his name. You found it, 
but before that, you found your way to the old 
man’s heart, and now with the marriage certifi- 
cate amply proved to be genuine, you are the 
only heir to Elmwood Hall and all its belong- 
ings — a vast estate — with only one feeble, played- 
out old man between you and actual possession !” 

“ Now, Grandpa, please stop ! You will recur 
to this subject so often when you know it is to 
me most disagreeable. You, Grandpa, are more 
to me than fifty Elmwood Halls and their 
belongings, multiplied indefinitely ! To be your 
lawful granddaughter, everywhere acknowl- 
edged as such, having your name !” 

That is just what I was coming to. It is no 
wonder that suitors for your hand are plenty. 
But to only one do you show any favor, and so 
1 have thought of coupling his name with yours 
in my will !” 

Grandfather !” 


I 


184 


Behhid Plastered Walls. 


Saving only on rare occasions does Lena now 
say grandfather.” It is always, at his request, 

Grandpa.” But now the more formal name 
escaped her, as she jumped to her feet. 

“ I told you, Grandpa,” she went on, more com- 
posedly, “ that you are entirely mistaken. Ber- 
nard Durand is a most valued, near and dear 
friend. A friend of my childhood. As such he 
is very dear to me. But he can never be what 
you intimate — never ! In that sense he would be 
repugnant.” 

“ My daughter, I am sorry. Bernard is very 
fond of you — I have thought foolishly fond of 
you. But then I have also thought if that be 
so, then hallowed will be your name to him, 
as wife, after I am gone, for true love ever hal- 
lows the object on which it becomes fixed — and so 
have been content.” 

“ It cannot be. Grandpa. Bernard has said no 
word to me of love.” 

Said no word. Bless my soul ! Why, his 
whole being is a stream of love flowing unmis- 
takably to you. A wealth of love speaks from 
his eyes whenever they light upon you.” 

“ Oh, Grandpa, please don’t. You pain me in- 
expressibly. If what you say be true, then I 
must not see Bernard. You must be mistaken. 
But even so, I cannot, cannot love him. It is 
impossible.” 

Daughter, you cannot be a coquette ! I can- 


Behifid Plastered Walls, 185 

not believet hat. Yet this seems almost like the 
vandalism of destroying a flower after inhaling its 
fragrance ! Bernard has really seemed much 
to you !” 

“But not in that way — not in that way!” 
Lena said, excitedly. 1 like him, I love him as a 
friend I Oh, why can we not be friends simply?”, 

“ Some day, Daughter, you will want some: 
good man’s love, some good man’s support and 
protection.” 

“ Y es, dear Grandpa,” Lena said, now all smiles. 
“ And the time may come when I shall feel grate- 
ful for some good man’s love! But not now, not 
now ! Grandpa, you are all the man I shall want 
these many, many years.” 

She put her own little, white, soft hand in his, 
palm to palm, as she frequently did, to note the 
similarity in shape and size, for General Warren’s 
hand was but a “ wee thing ” for a man’s hand, as 
Lena frequently told him. Then she lifted it 
and put her head under the arm, and so glancing 
up into his face, laughed !” 

“ It is pleasant to be first in the affection of a 
loved one,” he said. “ But, child, my course 
must be nearly run, and I would not, selfish as I 
am, keep your affections, all. Not quite! Now 
that I have a granddaughter life has become 
very sweet. But in life’s most delicious sweet 
there must be some bitter. I know that I must 


1 86 Behind Plastered Walls. 

leave you, yet I would not leave you without 
a protector.” 

“ He who protected me all my life before 1 
knew you, Grandpa, will be all-sufficient ! But, 
oh, don’t, Grandpa, I cannot bear it !” 

Then Lena’s mood changed, and she laughed 
again. But her grandfather seemed determined 
to press the subject now that he was fairly 
started, for Lena had evaded the subject many 
times. 

“ But about Bernard,” he said. “ He is a 
young man of rare goodness, singular probity 
and purity of character.” 

There are many such, I am sure ! At least 
so it seems to me.” 

Beware, Daughter ! The song of the bird 
and the wiles of the serpent are often danger- 
ously near together. The one attracts the other. 
You are young, beautiful, accomplished and 
rich ! These are great attractions.” 

‘‘ Oh, Grandpa, what virtues do you not in- 
vest me with. Rich, too.” 

“ Yes, Daughter, the wealth of Elmwood Hall 
is vast, and soon, very soon, perhaps, it will all 
be yours. These are rare attractions. Scatter- 
ing drops precede the rain, you know, and the 
few who are attracted now will be multiplied 
many times then. 

“ Grandpa, you would frighten me. Here 
have I rested in your affection in fancied se- 


Behind Plastered Walls. 187 

curity. None of these imaginings have troubled 
me. Nor will they, I am quite sure.” 

“ But, Daughter, about Bernard.” 

Grandfather,” Lena said, rising and drawing 
her figure to its fullest height, “it is useless 
for you to plead Bernard Durand’s cause. 
Were he ever to offer his hand to me, which 
he never will, I should refuse it. I could not, 
would not, marry him, good as I know him to 
be, were he the last man on earth, and did the 
perpetuation of the human race depend upon 
our union.” 

“ Then you must love some one else,” the 
General said, with rising agitation. 

“ Of course I do,” Lena frankly said. 

“ Josiah Wilmot?” 

“ Oh, Grandpa !” That something within us 
that makes it pain to cause others pain, Lena 
now felt. “ Do not mention his name in connec- 
tion with me,” she said. “ True, he is a lawyer, 
a great one, I am told. A great man, and great- 
ness ought to be a guarantee of goodness. But 
assuredly in his case, it is not. No, Grandpa, I 
have made no secret as to the man I love, and 
supposed his name would occur to you at once, 
and that you would spare me the embarrassment 
of speaking it first.” Lena hung her head, and 
stood the personification of coy maidenhood, 
before her grandfather, toying with her hands. 

There was silence for a few minutes, for Gen- 


1 88 Behind Plastered Walls, 

eral Warren was too much moved to admit of 
speech, whether with anger or tenderness it was 
impossible to tell. Finally he said : 

“ Daughter, remember when I am gone, that a 
holy matrimony brings almost a heaven of bliss ; 
marriage for anything else than true love, de- 
grades those higher attributes which ought to 
distinguish men from beasts.” 

Grandpa, Grandpa, I said naught of marriage. 
The love I bear my lover, and that he bears 
me, leads not to marriage. We are wedded 
already, bound together by ties that are indisso- 
luble.” 

“ Regina !” 

The strong man with the hard nature was 
gone! In his place was the old man with the 
gentle, loving heart of a woman, filled now with 
anxiety and alarm. As Lena heard her name 
spoken as but a few times in her life it had been 
spoken, she turned to’her grandfather, and the 
spirit of mischief was subdued. 

‘‘Grandpa, dear Grandpa !’' she exclaimed, 
springing to his arms. “ Oh, do you not know 
that I mean, that I must mean — you ? What are 
all the men in all the world to me compared to 
my own dear grandfather? No, while God pre- 
serves us to each other, I will be content with 
your love. I want an entire heart, an undivided 
love, and I know I have yours ! Now, please, 


Behind Plastered Walts, 189 

Grandpa, never again mention this subject to 
me.” 

He folded the young form to his breast, and 
the bargain was sealed with a kiss. 

‘‘One word more,” he said, “ before we leave 
this entire subject forever. My will awaits only 
one clause, the naming of your guardian, and my 
signature, before being complete. I presumed, 
of course, you would choose your old guardian, 
Norman Despard, but thought I would ask you, 
and be sure. I want you to choose. Shall it be 
Norman?” 

“ Oh, Grandpa, no, no ! Oh, don’t !’ 

Lena was looking into the future. She had 
lived with her grandfather, had endured his 
harshness, his cynicism at the first, when she 
would have barred his sympath}’’, his favor, but 
many months of close relationship had followed, 
during which he had become greatly endeared 
to her, as she to him. He was to her everything, 
and she could bear no reference to the time when 
she should be left alone again. The empty 
rooms, the vacant chairs, those large, easy chairs 
everywhere about, in which he alone reclined. 
Desolate, indeed, would be the Hall itself, with 
the master gone. And her heart most desolate 
of all, because this he had so filled.” 

After making his “ accounting ” as “guardian ” 
to her grandfather, Norman had gone away and 
had not seen her. He had never come back, and 


iqO Behind Plastered Walls. 

she seldom heard from him. He had sent to her 
the piano, which had been the immediate cause 
of the disruption of his home, and it occupied a 
place in the spacious parlor in the Hall. She 
had written him her thanks, and then all inter- 
course had ceased. Lena now thought of all 
this. Norman had gone out of her life, she 
thought, and she had no disposition to force his 
re-entrance. Nay, the very thought of it sent 
the blood coursing through her veins, and neck 
and face were crimson-dyed. 

No, Grandpa,” she said, without looking at 
him, “ not Norman. Why not Bernard ?” 

“ Norman was so good and so kind to you, 
and managed your little property so well, and 
you were so entirely satisfied, that I am surprised. 
Still, if you do not want him ” 

“ Do not put it so, Grandpa. Surely Norman 
could not choose to be so trammelled.” 

‘‘ So trammelled ! Why, God bless you, girl, 
do you not know that the management of such 
an estate as Elmwood Hall would alone insure 
him a very respectable income ?” 

“ Let it be so, then. Grandpa. Let it be so ! I 
did not know !” 

“ Not if you prefer Bernard.” 

“ No, no. Grandpa, I prefer Norman. I mean,” 
she said, perceiving the utter inconsistency of this 
statement, after asking the appointment of Ber- 
nard, “ if he is in straightened circumstances — 


Behind Plastered Walls* 19 1 

unfortunate, as your words imply — we ought, 
perhaps, to consider only that.” 

“We will not consider “only that,” my 
daughter, but your wishes, first last, all the time ! 
This shall be just as you wish !” 

“Oh, Grandpa,” she said, throwing her arms 
around his neck and kissing him passionately, 
“ then let it be Norman !” and precipitately left 
the room. 

But very soon she returned. 

“Grandpa,” she said, “are you sure about 
Norman? I mean about Norman’s needing the 
assistance. His father is reputed very wealthy. 
Surely, then, Norman can never become poor !” 

“ Why, Daughter, I said nothing about Nor- 
man’s poverty ! I merely suggested that he 
would not be able to do much business, and the 
management of your estate would bring him a 
competency. Your imagination, which must be 
very vivid, supplied the rest.” 

“ Then, Grandpa, if — if Norman does not need 
the assistance, please do not make him my 
guardian ! Let it be Bernard — or — any one !” 

“ You are assuredly a strange creature ! One 
minute you are so interested in Norman that you 
wish to benefit him ; the next you back out, and 
recall all you have said and done! Why is 
this ?” 

“ Girls often do things that are destitute of 
reason or sense. Perhaps this is a case ! Any- 


192 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


how, dear Grandpa, humor me! Oh, you must! 
Indeed, indeed, I cannot be associated with Nor- 
man in any way ! We must be forever apart /” 
Lena ran from the room, and the General 
arched his brows and smiled. 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


193 


CHAPTER XXVIII. 

Norman, I sent for you because I wanted 
to see you. Now that you have given up prac- 
tice and settled down in your old home with 
your sister Ruth, come and see me often, you 
and Ruth, will you not?” 

“We certainly will, if it is your wish. Gen- 
eral Warren. We shall be only too happy.” 

“ Your father was the last near friend I had. 
We old fellows are rapidly nearing the brink, and 
we drop over, one by one, as surely as the dead 
leaves fall in autumn. It will be my turn soon, 
I suppose. Well, when one gets old, decrepit, 
almost helpless, it don’t matter much, except to 
a few who are left. Do you know it is most 
doleful to think how few will care for our exit, 
— mine at least. I have lived an exclusive, hard 
life, so hard and selfish that there will be but one, 
I am afraid, who will really mourn. But she 
will mourn. Oh, the depth of love there is in 
Lena’s nature, I wish from my very soul that I 
could know her affections centered upon some 
worthy fellow before I go. He will be a lucky 
dog, whoever he may be.” 


194 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


Whoever? why I thought it was a certainty 
that Bernard 

“ Bernard, why, God bless your soul, she re- 
fused him years ago, even while an inmate of 
your house. Did you not know ?” 

“ Refused him ; refused Bernard ! Why, has 
he not been her most constant viskor here ?” 

But only as a friend, she positively assures 
me. No, it will never be a Durand.” 

“ You amaze me.” 

Hear her, Norman, hear her! Did you ever 
hear such bright laughter? It fills the old 
ranch and my old heart full, my boy. But 
also it always strikes a minor chord in my 
soul, for it ever tells me that soon I shall hear it 
no more.” 

Grandpa, where are you ?” 

Here, Daughter, in the library.” 

‘‘Oh, I have had such a ramble,” Lena said, 
running to her grandfather, and kissing him as 
she always did. “ Aren’t these purple asters 
lovely ? And such golden-rod, see ! The hedges 
are fairly clothed with them.” 

“ Do you not see your old friend ? The room 
is dark and your young, bright eyes are dazzled 
by the sunlight. It is Normrn.” 

“Oh, Norman!” 

The golden rod and the asters dropped from 
her hands to the floor, as she turned to him. 

Norman advanced. Lena saw the form, the 


Behmd Plastered Walls, 


195 


“ patch ” over the eye, and a tremor ran over 
her. She recovered herself almost instantly, 
however, and was ready for the extended hand. 

Miss Warren,” Norman said, I congratu- 
late you, and rejoice at this opportunity to re- 
new our acquaintance.” 

Norman, old friend,” Lena said, mischief 
breaking in smiles all over her face, your 
rejoicings because of Miss Warren's great good 
fortune might have been spoken many, many 
months ago! Why were they not?” 

You forget, Lena!” 

“ I forget — nothing!” she said, stooping and 
picking up her wild flowers. “ For some inexpli- 
cable reason, you, among all my former friends, 
alone absented yourself from me, and instead 
•wrote your congratulations at my good fortune! 
I deserved better treatment, did I not. Grand- 
pa ? And he my guardian, too.” 

From whom you fled, and kept yourself in 
hiding for many months ! After that treatment. 
General Warren, could I have come into your 
granddaughter's presence uninvited without 
feeling myself an intruder ?” 

** Fairly caught this time. Daughter ! confess,” 
the General said, beaming upon her. 

'‘Nay, you combine with mine adversary and 
subject my little bits of faults to the microscope 
and magnify them ! Now I wouldn't subject 
your little peculiarities to any such inquisition 


196 Behind Plastered Walls. 

as that, it would be cruel, Grandpa ! But I for- 
give you, Norman,” she said, turning to him. 

See how magnanimous I can be !” Lena 
laughed again, but it was not the silvery laughter 
that had but a few minutes before rang through 
the long halls. Then looking at the shield that 
was over Norman’s eye, she asked : 

“ What is the matter with your eye, Nor- 
man ?” 

“ Did you not knowj*” he asked. But his 
white brow became blushed. Have you not 
heard ?” 

“I have never heard, myself, Norman,” the 
General said. “ I never knew of any weakness 
in your family.” 

“ There was none, nor was there any in mine !” 
Norman said, and he said no more. Then as 
both his hearers were apparently awaiting infor- 
mation, he added : “ My sight was almost de- 
stroyed. It was done by a whip.” 

“ How dreadful !” Lena said. “ Did you do it 
yourself?” 

Norman hesitated a moment, then said : 

No, I was struck.” 

“ How brutal !” the General exclaimed. 

Not intentionally. Grandpa, of course not,” 
Lena said. 

‘‘ Intentionally,” Norman said, bitterly. Not 
once, but twice !” 

Oh, that was brutal,” Lena said. 




Behind Plastered Walls, 197 

The fellow deserves hanging,” the General 
said. 

” No fellow did it, but a woman, and she is 
buried. She has my forgiveness. Let her 
rest.” 


198 


Behind Plastered Walls* 


CHAPTER XXIX. 

Now Lena, dear, one more question and I am 
done.” 

“ Dear Ruth, ask as many questions as you 
wish to ask. It is a pleasure to talk to you, 
to tell you everything. Not since I left my 
childhood’s home, have I known the delight of 
confiding wholly in any one. And to have the 
pleasure of your confidence, your loving counsel 
once more, affords to me unalloyed delight. Ask 
as many questions as you wish. I shall not tire 
of answering.” 

“ Then, why, dear, did you not, when you came 
to Elmwood Hall, so near to your old home, to 
your friends, to me — why did you not communi- 
cate with me at once ? You know, you have al- 
ways known, how deeply I was interested in you, 
how fond of you I was.” 

‘‘ Dear Ruth, your loving friendship assured 
me of your kind, prayerful remembrance, and 
whenever thoughts of you came to me I longed 
for you. But there were reasons why I could 
not communicate with any one. Lena Lockwood 
was dead to the world, to those she loved most 


Behind Plastered Walls. 199 

especially. I was at Elmwood Hall under pecu- 
liar circumstances.” 

‘‘ Did you not go there as Geaeral Warren’s 
granddaughter ?” 

I went there, dear Ruth, as General Warren’s 
housekeeper, in answer to General Warren’s ad- 
vertisement. My object was to establish, in the 
only way in which it was possible to establish it, 
my right to the name I now bear. Of course, 
while an inmate of the Hall, under an assumed 
name, and disguised as a middle-aged house- 
keeper, as I was, it was absolutely impossible, 
had I wished it, to communicate with my 
friends.” 

Thereupon Lena told Ruth the whole story of 
her life during the time that had intervened after 
she left Norman’s house, and until she became 
the acknowledged granddaughter of General 
Warren. 

Oh, my dear child, you who were so depend- 
ent, so childlike always, how could you be so 
brave, so venturesome, so entirely self-suffi- 
cient?” 

“ Great emergencies oftentimes develop char- 
acter very rapidly, I suppose,” Lena said, smil- 
ing. “ I thought, I knew, that if my identity 
was ever to be established it devolved upon me 
to establish it. Mother Lockwood tried and 
failed. Norman was utterly unable to help me, 
and when I knew myself to be General Warren’s 


200 Behind Plastered Walls, 

grandchild, as I did just as soon as I had read 
my history in dear Mother Lockwood’s own 
handwriting, I felt impelled to set about proving 
it. I simply had to, the impulse was irresist- 
ible.” 

But why did you not confide, at least, in 
Norman?” 

Oh, dear Ruth, you cannot understand my 
position. I simply had to be alone. I was de- 
termined upon doing myself, unassisted. Only 
good old Mr. Osman knew of my whereabouts, 
and had it been possible to effect an entrance to 
the Hall without his assistance, he would not 
have known.” 

“ Still I cannot understand why those who had 
always loved you, might not have been told. 
But no matter, dear, you succeeded alone, and 
you alone deserve the credit. But how glad we 
all are that you are Regina Warren, and that 
Regina Warren is our own Lena Lockwood.” 

“Yes, and Lena Lockwood will she remain, in 
all but name, to all the dear ones who were so 
kind and good to me in my childhood. Oh, 
Ruth, it is my greatest joy to remember the 
friends who loved me then, they, it seems to 
me, will ever be my dearest friends. Everything 
connected with my girlhood days is dearer to me 
than I can tell. Even you, dear old Bruno,” she 
said, as the big brute came trotting in, and came 
to her for his usual caress, “ are more precious 


Behind Plastered Walls, 201 

than I can tell/’ Then he was overjoyed at see- 
ing Ruth. 

“Oh, dear old Bruno!” Ruth said. “You 
don’t know how utterly desolate the place seems 
without him, Lena ! Poor Norman was almost 
inconsolable when he found that Bruno had left 
him, and gone off with you.” 

“ Oh, Ruth, how selfish, how thoughtless I 
was! He shall return with you.” 

“ Oh, no, Norman would not have it so. We 
valued him mainly because he was yours — he 
seemed always to bring you back to us ” 

“ Oh, Ruth, he shall return with you. I did 
not consider. I did not know. Dear old fellow,” 
she said, encircling Bruno’s neck with her arms, 
“we must part again, after all, for others love 
you as well as I.” 

“Indeed, no, Lena. Norman would not have 
ft so, I am sure. He said he was yours, and if 
you wanted him you should have him, of 
course.” 

“ Wanted him !” 

“Then you shall keep him, or at least /will 
not take him. If Norman wants him he can come 
for him.” 

“ No, no, Ruth, Bruno will go with you.” 

“ No, dear, I will not take him, to-day. But I 
must go now.” 

“ But you will come again soon. You don’t 
know how the sight of you comforts me.” 


202 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


Ruth entered her carriage and drove away. 
Bruno wagged his tale and whined, but stood by 
the side of his own mistress. Lena watched the 
carriage until it was turning into the road that led 
to Norman’s house, but a few miles away. Then 
she said : 

“ Go, Bruno, go, that he may see you and pos- 
sibly think of your mistress. Oh, shame where 
is thy blush ? Loving unsought. That I can 
conquer, and I will.” 

Bruno sped away in a cloud of dust, and was 
soon lost to view. 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


203 


CHAPTER XXX. 

Nearly a year had elapsed after Clara’s death 
before Lena saw Ruth Durand, and then all 
mention of Clara and her career was omitted. 

Norman, until his father’s death had rendered 
necessary his return to the home of his childhood, 
had spent most of the time in Germany, whither 
he had gone for treatment by a noted oculist, 
and he had not seen Lena until sent for by Gen- 
eral Warren on his return home. The vast in- 
terests in which his father engaged came under 
Norman’s supervision and control, in view of 
which and the final almost total loss of sight to 
the injured eye, he reluctantly relinquished his 
law practice and assumed the new duties, so 
^ that he was not in straightened circumstances,” 
as Lena believed, but richer far than he had ever 
expected to be. 

** Lena,” her grandfather said, a few days after 
Norman’s visit, “ after this is it any marvel 
that a woman in Heaven should excite wonder ?” 

“ What can you mean. Grandpa ?” 

“ Read Revelations xii : i. The woman who 
struck Norman was his own wife, Clara!” 


204 Behind Piaster ed Walls, 

Tt>ereupon he told to her the story, as he had 
learned it from Mr. Osman. 

‘‘ Oh, Grandpa, that is dreadful ! How could 
she ? And why ? And why did she leave her 
beautiful home ?” 

“ Because possessed of the demon — jealousy !” 

“Jealousy! Jealous of Norman ! Impossible! 
You astonish me ! Surely there was — there 
could have been — no cause ! Norman was devo- 
tion itself.'’ 

“Yet she left his house the very day that you 
did!” 

“ Then it was because of the gift to me of the 
piano ! Oh, Grandpa, I feared that something 
dreadful would come of that — Clara was so en- 
raged and so unjust.” 

“ How unjust, my Daughter?” 

“ She said such dreadful things — but to me, 
not to Norman. The piano was a birthday gift 
to me, and she wanted it though she had a lovely 
grand. Do not ask me what she said. Grandpa, 
I cannot tell you. I am so sorry ! But after that 
I could not remain in that house another day.” 

“ You did right, m3' Daughter. A Warren 
can never be humiliated. It is plain from what 
Norman and Osman have dropped, and what you 
say, that the she-devil was jealous of you ” 

“ Grandpa, Grandpa — that is too preposterous ! 
I — I — Norman ! Oh, you hurt me, Grandpa, 
you hurt me!” 


Behind Plastered Walls, 205 

“ Well, your friendship might have been 
very close.” 

“ Oh, it was, it was a life-long friendship !” 

“ There is a sort of magnetic charm, my 
Daughter, which is ever the concomitant of 
true friendship, which, when there is congeniality 
between two souls, binds them very closely 
together. Such a friendship begets sympathy, 
and often forms a bond between kindred souls 
which is very delightful. Such happiness one 
could hardly describe. It can only be felt and 
lived, and it makes the earth almost a Heaven ! 
Was it such a mutual friendship that existed 
between Norman and you ?” 

“Oh, Grandpa! how well you have described it. 
I do not know as Norman felt thus toward me, 
but he was always very kind and considerate, as 
long as I can remember, away back to my child- 
hood days. To me, Norman has seemed the 
very noblest type of manhood. Whether as 
friend or husband, his life has seemed to me 
faultless.” 

“ Was he a devoted husband ?” 

“ Unusually so. Clara was very exacting, in- 
sisting upon his giving an account of every min- 
ute, almost, that he spent away from home. But 
she was devoted to him, I am sure, as he was to 
her.” 

“And was she kind and considerate with 


2 o 6 Behind Plastered VValls^ 

“ Sometimes, Grandpa. But she ever made it 
clear that she did not like me, and only ac- 
quiesced of necessity in having me in her house. 
Oh, Grandpa, how humiliated I have felt, how 
my proud spirit rebelled, while forced to submit.” 

“And to think that during all that time your 
place was here ! And that only an obdurate old 
man ” 

A little bit of a hand was pressed upon that 
once obdurate, hard old man’s lips, and a gentle 
“ hush ” was whispered in his ear, as Lena perched 
herself upon the arm of his big chair. Then she 
removed her hand and pressed her lips where 
her hand had been. Thus she enforced silence — 
as she had done many a time of late — for all fear, 
all awe of her grandfather had been swept away, 
and a loving familiarity had been substituted. 

“ Daughter, I am afraid that you came danger- 
ously near, in that friendship for Norman, to lov- 
ing him, which would have been decidedly 
wrong.” 

“ Loving him ! Oh, Grandpa, forgive me. I 
am ashamed to own it, but you ought to know. 
I did, I do love him with all my heart !” 

“ Zounds !” the old man thundered. “ Girl, do 
you disgrace the name you have won ? Oh, let 
your tears flow ! Let them wipe out the dis- 
grace, if you can !” 

“ Disgrace, Grandfather, I disgrace you ? Is 


Behind Plastered Walls, 207 

it disgrace to love, only to love the best of 
God’s created things ?” 

“ Another woman’s husband ! Honora, oh, 
Honora, is this your doings? Was it in re- 
venge ?” the old man said, now with bowed 
head. 

“ Grandfather, listen to me. You are not dis- 
graced. And you shall cast no aspersion upon 
me nor upon the honored name of my more than 
mother. She was the best it seems to me of all 
beings. Hallowed be her name. She honored 
above all men, and justly so, Norman Despard. 
He was her pupil, she had known him from 
his birth. So she made him my guardian. 
Circumstances beyond her control or mine took 
me to his home, where I lived for two years 
because 1 had no other shelter. What tor- 
tures I endured there, he little dreamed, and 
will never know. From childhood I had hon- 
ored him above all men, because he was dihowQ all 
men whom I knew, but I never dreamed of love 
until my eighteenth birthday. Then he gave me 
the piano, and when about to leave, handed me 
the history of my life, left with him by my 
mother for me. As I took the packet, he took 
my hand, and kissed me for my ‘ birthday.’ I 
looked into his eyes, and it seemed to me that 
Heaven was there. It beamed upon me for one 
brief moment, and my soul was enraptured ! I 
knew that what I felt must be love, Soon I knew 


2o8 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


it was not Heaven that I saw then, but a yawn- 
ing abj^ss, from which I fled in dismay, with the 
one object of hiding myself, more especially from 
Norman, whom I prayed that I might never 
more see. 1 never did see him again, until in 
your presence, when I was your acknowledged 
grandchild. Norman knows nothing of my fool- 
ishness, and he would despise me if he did. No, 
1 wrong him, he would not despise me, he is too 
just. He would pity me, as a poor weakling. 
Oh, Grandpa, I am weak, but never, never 
wicked.” 

Lena covered her face and wept, and her 
grandfather’s arms encircled her, as he, too, wept. 
The flinty-hearted old man wept ! So might wit- 
nessing angels. 

The old General, thinking that his daughter’s ” 
friendship for her late guardian might perhaps 
be too warm, and wishing to admonish her, had 
led her on until, in her artlessness and candor, 
she had confessed not only the whole strength of 
her friendship for Norman Despard, but also 
had made an acknowledgment she had expected 
never to make to any human being, the discovery 
that she loved Norman and the flight from him 
precipitated by that discovery. 

‘‘ Now, Grandpa,” she said, after she had con- 
quered her emotion, you can see why I could 
not want to have Norman made my guardian — 
or to be concerned with him as your grand- 


Behind Plastered Walls, 209 

daughter, or as you will say, your * heir * in 
any way, if it could be avoided !” 

Daughter, I can readily understand now. 
But you have upset all my careful calculations. 
Well, well, I shall have to go over the whole 
thing again and change everything — everything I 
But kiss me and go to your music. I have my 
letters to read and other duties which must be 
attended to.” 

The young, warm lips were pressed upon the 
old man's, and the young girl, whose entrance to 
Elmwood Hall had so transformed everything, 
and more than all else its master, left her grand- 
father, now honored and loved, at his desk in 
the library. 

A moment later she returned, halted an instant 
at the door, then went straight to the General, 
put her arms about his neck, kissed him and 
said : 

“ Grandpa, I know that it is foolish, but some- 
how I always feel better after each ‘ God bless 
you. Daughter,' that comes from your lips.” 

She slipped to her knees and the old General 
put his hands upon her head and said : 

“ Earth's dearest treasure, may God’s blessings 
ever attend you, and comfort you, as you have 
comforted me.” 

Lena arose and stood before him. 

“ Regina, when in the city, last week, I re- 
membered that your birthday will come next 


210 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


week, and I purchased you a little memento. I 
will give it to you now.” 

He went to the safe and took from it a paper 
box, containing a beautiful gold cup and handed 
it to her. 

“ Oh, dear Grandpa, thank you so much. How 
exquisite ! For this you must have a dozen 
kisses,” which she gave. Oh, I shall keep 
this always, and think of you so lovingly every 
time that I see it.” 

“ Now run away and leave me to myself an 
hour or so.” 

Lena raised her cup and read the words en- 
graved thereon. 

From the font of God’s rich blessings 
May thy Chalice e’er be filled ! 

She fondled it for awhile, then seated herself 
at the piano. 


Behmd Plastered Walls^ 


211 


CHAPTER XXXI. 

*^Down, Bruno! You have forgotten your 
good manners." 

But the noble brute had not forgotten his mas- 
ter in the three weeks of his absence, nor yet the 
old manner of manifesting the affection in which 
he held him. So he licked his master’s hand and 
jumped away again before the playful blow 
aimed at his ears could reach its destination. 

“ Why did you bring him, Ruth ?" Norman 
asked, as he assisted his sister to alight from the 
carriage. 

“ ’Twas not my work," Ruth assured him. 
“ Indeed I forbade it when Lena, after I had 
thoughtlessly told how we missed him, insisted 
that he should return with me, and she must 
have sent him after I left." 

‘‘You should not have spoken of that. Old 
boy, you act as though you were really glad to 
see me. But I suppose you will have to go 
back. I reckon the General is not fond of dogs, 
and you are not o’er-welcome in your new 
home." 

“ Norman, you are mistaken. Everything that 


212 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


Lena loves is loved by her grandfather. I never 
saw such a change in any human being.” 

‘‘ You are speaking of Lena, I presume ?” 

“ Of Lena ! I said nothing of Lena! I was 
speaking of General Warren I Lena is the same 
dear, thoughtful, magnanimous child that she 
was years ago — yet she has developed wonder- 
fully. Oh, Brother, do you know why and how 
she first entered Elmwood Hall ?” 

Yes — I have just learned the full particulars 
from Mr. Osman. But just why she left my 
house as she did and kept herself in hiding from 
us all, I cannot conjecture. It has puzzled me 
ever since.” 

“ And, Brother, unless I am mistaken, it will 
puzzle you ever ! It is, I think, a mystery that 
only Lena can solve, and she will not! But why 
do you not go to her and ask her ?” 

“ Because, had she wanted me to know she 
would have told me, long ago.” 

“ Told you long ago — and you, it seems to me, 
purposely refrain from giving her an opportun- 
ity even now.” 

“ Sister mine, there are some things that will 
probably always remain mysteries ! But even 
so, let it rest — I could never ask the child why 
she fled from me.” 

“Fled from you? Why should you think 
that ?” 

“ Think ! is it not a fact ?” 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


213 


Perhaps not, Brother. She fled from your 
house, it is true. Why, you do not know ! 
Might it not have been a result of some unpleas- 
antness between her and Clara, because of your 
present of the piano T 

** Then why not have told me ?’* 

“ Because Clara was your wife. It was her 
home, while Lena was a dependent, so to speak.'* 

** And for that reason should have been well 
treated. But a truce to this. I will not reflect 
upon Clara. She was my wife." 

Perhaps for that very reason Lena would 
not reflect upon her, nor, her eighteenth birth 
day having come, be longer dependent upon 
her ! Depend upon it, Lena is too just, too inde- 
pendent to remain longer than absolutely neces- 
sary where she deemed her presence unwel- 
come." 

“ Unwelcome!” 

** Brother, none of us can answer for any one 
but ourselves. To Clara, Lena’s enforced and 
prolonged presence might have been un- 
pleasant. I foresaw this and would have guarded 
against it.” 

“ And you think this explains Lena’s abrupt 
leave-taking !" 

** I said not so. Brother. I mentioned it only 
as a possibility, which Lena would never ex- 
plain. But you must remember that the very 
day on which you presented her the piano, you 


214 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


also put into her hands the story of her life, 
which impelled her to a search for information 
concerning herself which both Miss Lockwood 
and you had failed to obtain, and which fact 
she knew. I asked her, Norman, why she left 
your house as she did, and especially if it was 
on Clara’s account. Her words were : 

On that one subject, dear Ruth,. I beg you 
will never speak. I will never say anything that 
can reflect upon Norman's wife. I know she 
did not like me, nor want me in her house, and 
that was her undisputed right.’* 

‘‘ So you see. Brother, that Lena is loyal to 
you and yours, whatever the cause of her leav- 
ing your house.” 

Yes, Sister, I see, but as through a glass, very 
darkly, yet as clearly as ever I expect to see.” 


y 


Behind Plastered Walts. 


215 


CHAPTER XXXII. 

Soon after Lena left the General, busy at his 
desk, sweet strains of music stole upon his 
senses, and he heard his favorite songs — those 
which Honora Lockwood was wont to sing to 
him in the long ago, and he was lulled to sleep. 
But soon he awoke refreshed. He called to 
Lena, and asked to have the blinds opened and 
the shades raised. She did so, stole her arms 
around his neck, kissed him again, and returned 
to her music in the room adjoining. 

Lena played in the full absorption of an en- 
thusiast, nor took note of the flight of time. 
Piece after piece she played. Then her mood 
changed, and she sang again. But whether she 
played or sang, her whole soul was absorbed. 
She felt as she played, and played or sang as she 
felt. She had been at the piano, she knew not 
how long, but expecting now, every minute, to 
be summoned to her grandfather’s side, as usual. 
She glanced at the clock, and found she had 
been at her practice over two hours. 

Grandpa !” she called, but received no reply. 

‘^Dear, tired old man,” she said. ‘‘He has 
fallen asleep again.” 


2 i 6 Behind Plastered Walls* 

She arose and went to the door. But she saw 
him with a paper before him on the desk, appar- 
ently busied in its perusal. She returned to the 
piano and sang, as only she could sing it, her 
grandfather had told her, '‘Home, Sweet 
Home!” She had found her "Home, Sweet 
Home,” and her rejoicing at her success had 
often found expression in the singing of that in- 
comparable ballad. And she had never sung it 
without being called by her grandfather, com- 
mended and kissed. She awaited the summons 
now, but it came not. Then she knew that he 
must be still asleep. She went to him, but he 
still sat with the paper before him on the table, 
resting on his elbows, his hands clasped under 
his chin. But his eyes were not on the paper, 
they were staring across the table into vacancy. 

"Grandpa,” Lena said. 

But his eyes did not follow her, nor did his 
head turn. She put one arm about his neck, the 
other hand to his face. His face was cold, his 
form immovable ! Then the horrid truth 
dawned upon her that he was dead, and she sank 
down limp and lifeless at the old man’s feet. 

When left alone by Lena two hours before, the 
General went to the safe, that was masoned in 
one side of the wall, opened it, took from it some 
papers, among which was a paper on which was 
written, " Last Will and Testament,” and laid 
them on the table with his unread letters ; then 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


217 


he sat down and commenced the reading of his 
letters. One of them must have pleased him, for 
he said and repeated with apparent unction, 
“ Thank God ! Thank God,” which words Lena 
had distinctly heard, while she was singing. 
But she had sung on. Then he opened his 
“ Will,” and in every place where he had left a 
blank space, with the intention of writing the 
name of the executor and guardian whom Lena 
should choose, he wrote “ Norman Despard,” 
and after completing it he affixed his signature, 
and the document, drawn up by his friend Osman, 
which was to make Regina Lockwood Warren 
sole heiress to the vast estate of Elmwood Hall, 
which also would come to her by entailment, 
together with the independent fortune of the 
General, was completed. 

Then the General read through the letter that 
had so pleased him again. Then he took the pen 
and wrote across the letter, Amen ! Blessed 
by God in whom I fully trust.” He folded it, 
put it in the envelope, took up the “ Will ” 
again, opened it on the desk before him, and com- 
menced its reperusal. 

A moment later he raised his eyes, looked 
across the room, through the window out upon 
the fair landscape that God had made, and in 
that instant his soul escaped from its earthly 
tenement, and went back to God. 

So Lena had iound him, with a smile fixed 


2i8 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


upon his face, which became stereotyped upon 
her memory. Ever after, as she recalled her 
grandfather, she saw him as he was at the last, 
the contentment and peace that were within 
plainly written in his face. 

Recovering from her swoon, Lena summoned 
assistance, and with her own hand wrote tele- 
grams to Norman, Mr. Osman and others. 

Then she went to her grandfather again. 

He cannot harm you, poor foolish girl,*^ she 
said to Juno, who feared to come near. 

She placed her arms about his neck and laid 
her face upon his head. As she did so her eyes 
rested for the first time upon the paper lying 
on the desk. Almost at the same instant she saw, 
in large letters, Last Will and Testament,'* and 
also in the body of the document, “ Norman 
Despard, Executor," and she knew that he was 
again her guardian, and that more or less inti- 
mate association with him was thus necessitated. 
The very sight of the loved name sent the blood 
coursing through her veins, despite the presence 
of the loved dead. Her heart, like an imprisoned 
bird, commenced a tattoo, in spite of all effort at 
repression, and she could not control the long- 
ings of her soul, called forth by the sight of the 
name of him she loved so well. She tried, but 
failed. It seems in accordance with God's ordin- 
ance that when virgin love has once centered it- 
self upon a man, that man shall occupy not only 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


2ig 


the highest but the first place in her affections, 
and in her thoughts ; oftentimes, more’s the pity, 
to the exclusion of better things. And so it was 
that the soul of Lena Warren, while sincerely 
mourning for the dead, was filled with rapture at 
the sight of the name of the man she loved. 


r 


220 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


CHAPTER XXXIII. 

On the day succeeding the funeral of General 
Warren, through which Lena had been attended 
by Mr. Osman and Ruth Despard, the heiress of 
Elmwood was summoned into Mr. Osman’s 
presence in the library. She came to the room 
where her grandfather had spent the last hours 
of his existence, poor, weak thing, habited in 
crepe, and took a seat by the old man’s side. 

My Daughter,” Mr. Osman began. But at 
the utterance, the very name her grandfather had 
called her, the tears came. 

‘^Forgive me, Mr. Osman,” she said, “ I will 
control myself presently.” 

“ It is but natural, my child, yet I would 
have you calm and self-possessed. Did you read 
your father’s Will that laid open before you ? It 
was proper if you did.” 

“ I did not. I saw what it was but did not 
read it.” 

Did you read the open letter that was also 
on the desk?” 

“ I did not, of course, Mr. Osman.” 

“ That letter affords an explanation of your 


Behind Plastered Walls, 221 

grandfather’s actions, and I wish you had read 
it.” 

** Then give it to me and I will read it.” 

“ I haven’t it. It was written by Norman, and 
so he thought best to take possession of it. Un- 
doubtedly he will show it to you, if you so 
desire.” 

“ Why did he take possession of it?” 

“ That it might not be read — if it had not been 
■ — by you/'' 

^‘Then, of course, I do not wish to see it. For 
if Norman thinks it best that I should not read 
it, of course it is best.” 

“Then I had best do nothing more until Nor- 
man arrives. He will surely arrive by the train 
that is just in. I will betake me to the porch 
and smoke while he has an interview with you, 
which he wishes, and has asked. I shall be on 
hand when wanted.” 




222 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


CHAPTER XXXIV. 

Norman Despard stood with bowed head in 
the presence of Regina Warren. He had just 
entered the room. Lena arose, expecting the 
usual hand-greeting, but Norman stopped, said. 

Good morning. Miss Warren,'’ and bowed. 

She responded, stood a moment, then asked 
him to be seated. 

Norman had meant to be formal with the 
heiress of Elmwood Hall — at least until he 
should receive some encouragement from her to 
be familiar. But no sooner was he in her pres- 
ence than he felt the magnetic charm of the 
woman he loved, and at her invitation to be 
seated, instead he stepped forward with ex- 
tended hands. 

As Norman advanced, Lena turned her beau- 
tiful eyes full upon him, and raised her eyes to 
his. Their charmed gaze, full of unspeakable 
love, met, and told plainly to each the language 
of the other’s soul. Norman stopped for an in- 
stant only, then stepped forward, and in an 
instant both her little hands were hard pressed 
in his. But soon he gained the mastery, released 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


223 


her hands, and seated himself by her side at the 
desk at which her grandfather had but a few 
days before sat, and with loving trust made this 
man his granddaughter’s guardian in opposition 
to her request, knowing full well that he was 
thus insuring her happiness and her good. 

‘‘ Lena,” Norman now said, I wish to tell you 
something. I hold in my hand a letter which I 
wrote to your grandfather, which he received 
the day that he died, and which, presumably, 
caused him to make me your guardian in oppo- 
sition to your expressed wish. The letter is a 
long one, and I will now give you only its one 
salient feature. You can read the letter at your 
leisure if you so desire. I said to your grand- 
father, *■ My dear sir, I love your grand- 
daughter with my whole heart.’ Lena, I do so love 
you. It may be presumptuous, but while I can- 
not say that I know that you love me, still I am 
satisfied that you do. There is a something 
within me, a sort of consciousness, that tells me 
so. An inward monitor which I hope is unerr- 
ing, tells me of responsiveness on your part.” 
As he ended, Norman took possession of Lena’s 
unresisting hand. ” Tell me, Lena,” he said, in 
one word, do you not love me?” 

‘‘ Norman,” she began — she wanted to delay — 

I — oh, don’t think me too easily won, but I do 
love you, oh, so much ! But this is so sudden, 
so unexpected.*' 


224 


Behind Plastered Walls, 


Sudden!” Norman exclaimed, pressing the 
little hand he held, ** sudden! no, not sudden, 
not with me, nor, I think, with you, for Mr. Os- 
man has told me much that he has suspected, 
also what your grandfather must have di- 
vined. Lena, I have loved you since the 
time when ” 

“ Never mind when it began,” Lena said, hast- 
ily interrupting him, ‘‘suffice it that you love me 
now, and that now I love you! Supreme happi- 
ness dates from to-day, Norman. Changing the 
subject, I rejoice that you can cast aside that 
ugly shade, no one would suspect blindness, your 
eyes seem to see alike.” 

“ And so they do, dear. An operation per- 
formed two months ago proved entirely success- 
ful. I could not have come to you otherwise.” 

“ I should not have cared for myself, Norman, 
only for you, my love.” 

“ Ah, you do love me ! And you are not 
ashamed to own it.” 

“ Ashamed ! Ashamed to own my love ! Ah, 
Norman, no ! ‘ Out of the abundance of the heart 
the mouth speaketh,’ the good book says, and I 
believe it. For my heart, lately so forlornly 
desolate, is now so full. Full of love to you, 
gratitude to God for all His mercies. Only to 
think, Norman, you first knew me a waif, cast 
upon an unwelcome world, bearing a name that 
was not mine. But I have found a heritage at 


Behind Plastered Walls. 225 

last, a name of which I am so proud, for it is my 
owftj and an honored name. And with it, vast 
wealth, I am told. Oh, I feel that I am God’s 
Almoner, and your wisdom shall direct in the dis- 
tribution of His gifts. You will help me, Nor- 
man, to assist others.” 

“ Yes, dear, and more. For God has also freely 
given to me. And where you give, I will add an 
equal sum always.” 

And we may, we will assist all worthy peo- 
ple, may we not?” 

All with whom we may come in contact, or 
of whom we may learn, certainly !” 

First of all Norman, I want to build a Home — 
a real home for poor waifsy for orphans, and all 
poor children, where they may be cared for 
and educated. And I want it built on dear 
Mother Lockwood’s place and named for her. 
And the matron, who must be loving and gentle 
and good, may live in the dear cottage, where I 
may go and consult and assist.” 

“ A sort of fairy godmother, eh ? Well, dear, 
you shall have all that you may wish !” 

‘'Oh, Norman, my heart is already full of it!'’ 

“ Then where do I come in ?” 

“ Why, dear, you will have the heart itself and 
all the fullnesss thereof — you and dear Ruth 
and Mr. Osman, who must live with us, here at 
the Hall.” 

“ What is that ?” 


226 Behind Plastered Walls, 

Mr. Osman having finished his cigar long 
ago, came in just in time to hear Lena’s proposi- 
tion that he remain at the Hall. 

Oh, dear Mr. Osman, congratulate me and 
say you will !” 

I congratulate you and say ‘I won’t!’ What, 
give up my bachelor home ! Egad, I might 
sicken and die I” 

In that case I should not be under the neces- 
sity of leaving my home to care for you.” 

Should you do that, child ?” 

Most certainly I should do nothing less ! It 
is through your instrumentality that I have a 
home! Oh, it will be our delight to minister to 
our revered friend, will it not, Norman?” 

Eh ! ^ Our delight !’ Egad, has it come to 

this so soon? Then you have reconsidered. 
You accept Norman as your guardian?” Mr. 
Osman said in feigned surprise. 

\{ you will become our ward — yes!” 

** The mistakes of my life have been many,” 
Norman quoted, as his mind ran quickly over 
his life, even away back to his boyhood, and he 
could not tell when he had not loved Lena Lock- 
wood, or when the same love-light had not 
looked out of her eyes into his, which he now 
recognized. 

He took her little hand in both of his, and rais- 
ing it to his lips, unabashed by the presence of 
his old friend, said, with touching tenderness : 


Behind Plastered Walls. 


227 

^^Oh, my own love, had I but known — liad I 
but known myself !” 

“ I am happy that I new know — that — that dear 
Ruth, and our dear old friend belong* to — to us,” 
Lena said with suffused face, taking the old 
man’s hand, and then going to Ruth, who now 
entered the room, and throwing herself into the 
welcome arms, whispered to her, “ Dear, dear 
Ruth, are sisters — in very deed !” 

“ ‘ And the glory of the Lord shone round about 
them !’ ” Mr. Osman said. “ Children, I think that 
I shall have to come and take care of you.” 

Norman gave Lena the letter he had written 
to her grandfather, and sent her from the room to 
peruse it. 

Mr. Osman also left the room, and was soon 
walking up and down the piazza, puffing away 
at his cigar. 

The astonished Ruth, who had at Lena’s re- 
quest been her guest since the death of General 
Warren, saw the happiness beaming in her 
brother’s face and divining the cause, said : 

“ Brother, what has caused this transforma- 
tion ?” Then, in quivering tones, “ Oh, Nor- 
man, has the hoped for 3'et dreaded day of my 
widowhood dawned ? Am I henceforth to be 
alone in the world ?’' 

Alone ! Ruth, forgive me, I had not thought 
of that.” 

But I had.” 


228 


Behind Plastered Wails, 


They turned to the voice and there stood 
Lena, letter in hand, and eyes dimmed with 
tears. 

“ Dear Ruth," she said, “ think you that I 
would rob you of a brother? And such a 
brother? Ah, no. Thou art Ruth, I will be 
Naomi. Where 1 go thou wilt go; where 1 
lodge thou wilt lodge, and that, please God, will 
be right here in Elmwood Hall ! Remember, 
dear," she said, with a bewitching smile, “ I am 
mistress here, and so I command." 

Turning to Norman, Lena said, “ I thank 3^011, 
dear, for ni}'- grandfather’s approval, which 1 see 
written across this paper, and for dear Mr. Os- 
man’s sanction. He is 1113^ second father. With 
this and your love and dear Ruth’s, and the smile 
of Heaven upon me — oh, what joy is mine." 

And Norman said, with an arm encircling 
her, “‘My soul to God, my heart to thee.’" 


THE END. 


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